George Russell is a Harpswell resident and a 30-plus-year retired U. S. Coast Guard veteran, including seven years of service within the Department of Homeland Security. 

The July 19 editorial “Susan Collins and the $70 billion mistake” was a fact-challenged, vile example of deflection and a sick attempt to politicize a terrible tragedy. 

The death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero deserves a thorough, transparent investigation and accountability wherever the facts lead. But grief should not become the basis for assigning personal blame to one senator for the actions of an officer — especially when that senator has been a champion for reform of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

The editorial argued that Sen. Susan Collins’ vote for additional border security funding amounted to an endorsement of every action taken by ICE. That is not just an extraordinary leap, but a gross distortion of Sen. Collins’ record.

Sen. Collins authored the ICE reforms contained in the Department of Homeland Security funding bill signed into law on April 30, including $20 million for body-worn cameras, $2 million in de-escalation training and a 17% increase in funding for the Office of the Inspector General, which is charged with providing independent oversight and accountability within DHS.

Those actions are consistent with demanding accountability, not enabling misconduct.

In a recent letter, Sen. Collins also released a list of additional reforms she supported that Democrats rejected, including requiring visible and unique ID numbers for ICE officers, prohibiting DHS from detaining and deporting U.S. citizens and prohibiting ICE enforcement operations within sensitive locations, like hospitals, childcare centers and schools.

Democrats’ decision to shut down DHS also delayed the implementation of the new safeguards Sen. Collins secured in the appropriations process. Obviously, these facts did not fit the editorial board’s narrative of choice and were left out of their editorial.

The editorial also overlooked Sen. Collins’ response after the Biddeford shooting. Collins joined the entire Maine congressional delegation in calling for a full, impartial investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, urged the Department of Justice to work with Maine law enforcement and called for an end to non-urgent vehicle stops while the investigation proceeds.

The United States is often touted as “a nation of laws,” which form the basis for our government and influence the day-to-day lives of all Americans. What ICE and DHS are supposed to do is protect U.S. citizens by enforcing long-standing immigration laws set in place to ensure that those who enter our country do so for legitimate purposes and that they do so in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. I think we can all agree this is an important goal. While some have called for ICE to be abolished, Sen. Collins has been in the forefront of efforts to reform the agency. I think this is the right and realistic approach. 

Throughout its 250-year history, the United States has been, and continues to be, a worldwide beacon of light beckoning those seeking freedom by escaping from religious persecution or the ravages of crime-infested regions. Others see it as a land of opportunity, where anyone who works hard has the opportunity to improve their circumstances. We live up to those ideals by welcoming legal immigrants into our society, and keeping American citizens safe. 

Sen. Collins has worked tirelessly to ensure that necessary resources are provided and appropriate policies are enacted to ensure DHS can facilitate this mission safely and effectively.

Editorial pages have a responsibility to distinguish between documented facts and policy disagreements and assigning collective guilt. In failing to live up to these most basic standards of journalistic practice, this newspaper failed its readers.