Action 202. What’s next?
Background/Actions: Things are coming to a head in Maine. FINALLY the “faith community” is putting their bodies where their rhetoric has been. Kudos to those arrested for staying in Susan Collins’ Portland office on Tuesday, hoping for an answer from her (but of course not getting one)(1). While NY Congressman Suozzi has apologized for his vote to fund ICE (2) Jared Golden remains silent. As I understand it, Golden may have a chance to partially rectify his error, if the Senate strips ICE/DHS funding from the current legislation, because the difference between the Senate bill and the House bill would send the bill back to the House for another vote. Let him know you are watching what he does. Contact both our Senators and ask them to vote for the obvious: “strip the DHS funding bill out and make it a standalone bill so the other appropriations bills can be passed and the DHS bill can be reworked."(3) Call Senator Thune as well. Yes, he’s a Republican, but as Senate Majority Leader he has the power to do this. Contact info below.
The Maine Attorney General has established an email address where you can report bad ICE behavior. CitizenReporting.OAG@maine.gov. Remember that accurate video recording is of utmost value, but all valid reports are important.
The next mass nationwide No Kings demonstration will be March 28 https://www.nokings.org. There’s a lot of safety planning, permit gathering etc. that goes into a major demonstration. If you are thinking of planning something in your town, the time to start is now. Let us know so we can help spread the word.
As reported in Action 201, there’s a bill in the Maine legislature that deserves your attention. The hearing on LD 2106 is tomorrow. If you are affiliated in any way with a library, a public school, a state postsecondary educational institution, a health care or child care facility or family child care provider, you should read the legislation and testify in favor of it. It will protect you and those under your care.
Finally, did you know that recent grants for FEMA emergency relief contain a contract clause requiring the grant recipient to cooperate with ICE? This requirement is now in the courts but was adopted last spring, an illustration of the sneaky ways this administration is attempting to establish its dictatorship (4).
Urgency: This is the moment. Make your calls today and start your plans for March 28.
Contacts:
Senator John Thune: (202) 224-2321 or (605) 225-8823 or (605) 334-9596 or (605) 348-7551.
Senator Susan Collins: Email: www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins/form
Phone: (202) 224-2523 (DC office), (207) 945-0417 (Bangor office)
Senator Angus King: Email www.king.senate.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-5344 (DC office), (207) 945-8000 (Bangor office)
Representative Jared Golden: Email: golden.house.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-3121 (DC office), (207) 249-7400 (Bangor office)
Extra Credit:
(2) https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/tom-suozzi-dhs-ice-funding-failed-democrat-house
(3) from Chop Wood Carry Water via Emanuel Pariser’s email list, emanuel.pariser@gmail.com
Email him to get on his list.
Other:
https://politicsusa46.substack.com/p/since-when-did-wait-them-out-become
https://theintercept.com/2026/01/26/alex-pretti-democrats-abolish-ice
https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/let-them-eat-cake-while-minneapolis