Senate debate erupts as Collins and Jackson clash over ICE funding and a immigrant's death
Democratic challenger Troy Jackson accused Sen. Susan Collins of enabling the fatal ICE shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, while Collins defended her record and highlighted agency reforms.
In the third televised debate between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, the candidates sparred over the death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian who was shot by ICE officers in Biddeford on July 13 while fleeing a vehicle pursuit. Jackson charged that Collins’ vote for the Secure America Act, which allocated roughly $70 billion to immigration enforcement, helped fund the agency responsible for the killing and called ICE a “rogue agency” serving Donald Trump’s agenda.
Collins defended her record, noting she urged the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize body-camera use for ICE agents in Maine and increased the budget for the independent Office of Inspector General by 17 percent. She also pointed to ICE’s work on child trafficking, drug smuggling, and recent successes such as dismantling a child-pornography ring in Maine, arguing the agency, though imperfect, is essential and should be reformed, not eliminated. The contest will conclude in the November 3 general election.
Why it matters
The exchange shows how immigration enforcement funding and agency accountability are shaping a pivotal Senate race.
How this story developed
- Sep 24 Collins holds narrow lead over Jackson in latest Maine Senate poll
- Sep 24 Donald Trump's net approval rating fell to minus 22.4 in Nate Silver’s tracker, the lowest point of any president at this stage since 1945.
- Sep 25 Florida GOP officials say they are preparing for possible defeats after polls show Democrats gaining ground in the governor’s race and Trump’s approval dropping sharply.
- Oct 2 The Georgia Senate debate turned sharply personal as Ossoff pledged to repeal Trump-era tariffs and accused Collins of siding with the president. Collins defended the tax cuts tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and blamed the Inflation Reduction Act for inflation. Both candidates clashed over data-center subsidies, with Ossoff linking Collins to a billionaire donor and Collins returning the charge. The discussion also covered the ongoing conflict with Iran and a recent immigration raid at a Hyundai plant, while each candidate faced accusations of extremist associations.
- Oct 6 The first debate between Collins and Jackson is scheduled for Oct. 6.
- Oct 7 The first debate was held, with both candidates trading barbs and no clear winner emerging.
- Oct 9 A debate between Graham and Andrews is scheduled for October 11.
- Oct 11 Donald’s campaign edited its website to cut eight Trump mentions and moved a Trump photo to a less prominent spot.
- Oct 11 President Trump announced a seven‑state rally tour starting on Oct. 1 ahead of the midterm elections.
- Oct 12 Collins publicly accused Ossoff of using Georgia to launch a 2028 presidential bid.
- Oct 14 Former President Barack Obama released a video endorsement for Troy Jackson.
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