Maine ICE shooting sparks calls to abolish agency

A fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents in Maine has ignited political protests and intensified calls from Democratic Senate candidates to abolish the agency, placing Republican Senator Susan Collins at the center of the controversy. The incident occurred on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Biddeford, a coastal city south of Portland.

According to the Maine Attorney General's Office, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a 26-year-old man from Colombia during an enforcement operation related to a final order of removal. Authorities stated the man attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of an officer. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General are conducting investigations into the shooting.

The event quickly became a flashpoint in Maine's Senate race. Several Democratic candidates vying to replace former candidate Graham Platner, who dropped out last week, joined protests in Biddeford. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson and former Maine CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah participated in demonstrations, with Jackson marching to Senator Collins's Biddeford office where protesters chanted "Vote her out!" and carried...