Nirav Shah Blames Susan Collins for ICE Shooting Oversight

A fatal shooting by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Biddeford, Maine, has sparked a political confrontation between Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Senate candidate Nirav Shah. The incident occurred following a period of increased agency activity in the state, which included an initiative known as Operation Catch of the Day.

During a press conference on July 14, 2026, Shah criticized Collins in her capacity as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, alleging she provided billions in funding to ICE without requiring transparency, oversight, or reforms. He specifically noted that the officers involved in the Biddeford shooting were not wearing body cameras, arguing that the tragedy was preventable.

A spokesperson for Senator Collins rejected these claims, asserting that Shah was using the tragedy to advance a political agenda. The spokesperson pointed to new protections that became law in April, which included $20 million for body-worn cameras and $2 million for de-escalation training, as evidence of the Senator's commitment to reform.