Dear Editor:

I regularly call Senator Susan Collins’ office. I’ll admit, the first time I picked up the phone, I was nervous … But I want to say this: every time I have called, the staff in Senator Collins’ office have been courteous and respectful.

They answer the phone. They listen. And that matters to me.

What has grown increasingly frustrating is the widening gap between those respectful conversations and any visible action or response from the Senator herself.

My most recent call was on Jan. 6, 2026, just after the holiday break -- one of many, but representative of a clear pattern.

On Christmas Eve, ICE agents violently detained a pastor in Lewiston. He was in the country legally, produced documentation, and was later released -- but the damage to his family and congregation was already done. I checked Senator Collins’ website. There was no statement.

I asked what the Senator’s official position was on ICE and its operations, nationally and here in Maine. The staffer told me there was no statement available, but my concerns would be shared.

This week, ICE shot and killed an American citizen in Minneapolis. As of the time of this letter, there is still no public response from Senator Collins.

Meanwhile, ICE recruitment ads are airing in Maine, advertising a $50,000 signing bonus. I find myself asking a question I never thought I would need to ask: Is this what we are paying for? Federal agents terrorizing legal immigrants on Christmas Eve -- and killing an American citizen -- without a word from our Senator?

I also raised concerns about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, described by the administration as an “arrest,” but requiring thousands of troops, extensive air power, and reportedly resulting in significant civilian deaths. Senator Collins issued an initial statement, but as the White House’s justification has shifted repeatedly, there has been no update. I asked whether she still stands by her position. There was no new information.

I asked about healthcare -- specifically a six-point plan I was previously told existed to address ACA subsidy losses. I was told the issue was “dated,” though the problem remains unresolved.

Finally, I asked again about Senator Collins’ town hall schedule in Maine. Once again, there was no information.

I appreciate being listened to. But call after call, hearing “I’ll share your concerns” without follow-through stops feeling like representation.

Cecilia Dahl

Boothbay