Mainers march to confront Collins votes on health care cuts, ICE funding

“Today is not about wanting another statement,” Alessia Gaspar-Da Silva, of Bridgton, told reporters today in Portland. “It is about demanding to not just be seen, but heard.” 

Gaspar-Da Silva’s husband, Marcos, was detained by ICE for seven months before being released in August. She spoke at a press conference in front of Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland office, which was a stop on the nearly 80-mile “Cost of Collins” march from Biddeford to Augusta taking place this week. 

In her remarks, Gaspar-Da Silva said her husband’s health deteriorated in custody and that the family lost nearly $50,000 through detention costs, lost income and other expenses. In April, Collins voted to provide $70 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement agencies with no reforms. “Behind every policy is a person,” she said. “And behind every person is a family.”

Mainers also called on Collins to account for her failures to protect health care and food assistance and oppose expanded ICE enforcement.

Emma Wilkinson is a 24-year-old social work student from Saco who lives with endometriosis, a chronic medical condition affecting about 10% of women, which causes significant pain and can cause infertility. She said rising health care costs have forced her to choose between medications and doctor visits, while her family now spends $1,200 a month on health insurance.

“I have seen firsthand how rising healthcare costs degrade the level of care you receive and actively worsen your health outcomes,” Wilkinson said. “Skyrocketing expenses have forced me to pick and choose which medications and doctor visits I can afford each month, and which ones I am forced to stop or turn down.”

State lawmakers also joined the event, including Reps. Cheryl Golek, Valli Geiger and Dan Sayre. Golek criticized Collins for helping advance H.R. 1, saying the people harmed by cuts to health care, food assistance and other programs “should never be swept aside to give more to those who already have the most.”

The “Cost of Collins” march began Monday at Collins’ Biddeford office and is scheduled to end Friday at her Augusta office. Organizers say marchers will deliver documents describing the impacts of Collins’ policies along with petitions calling on her to oppose ICE funding and protect health care.