Collins and Jackson clash over ICE, asylum and immigration reform in Maine Senate race

Immigration surged to the top of the Maine Senate campaign after a wave of ICE raids in early 2024 and the July killing of Colombian resident Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero by an ICE officer. Susan Collins, a longtime Republican senator, defended ICE’s role, noting she funded body-camera and de-escalation training and opposed broad deportation actions, while still supporting the agency’s overall mission. Troy Jackson, a Democratic former Senate president, condemned ICE as a "rogue" entity, demanding its abolition and calling for a civilian-run immigration service that respects due process.

Jackson also pushes for comprehensive reform, expanded visa programs and a fair asylum system, whereas Collins backs existing visa categories, DACA and a bipartisan border-security review bill. Their divergent positions have become a central issue in the high-profile race.