WASHINGTON—Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement:
“The Department of Homeland Security continues to closely monitor the situation in Lewiston, Maine, following last night’s horrific mass shooting. My thoughts today are with the Lewiston community, the loved ones of those killed and injured, and the law enforcement officers and first responders bravely working to secure a dangerous scene and support survivors.
“I have spoken with Governor Mills, Senator Collins, Representative Golden, Mayor Sheline, Bates College President Jenkins, and others to convey the Department’s efforts and commitment to helping the community in this trying moment. Dozens of DHS law enforcement officers from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Homeland Security Investigations are assisting federal and local authorities in their investigation and efforts to apprehend the suspect and protect the surrounding communities. For example, ICE’s Boston and New York Special Response Teams are activated and providing support to local authorities. FEMA and our Office of State and Local Law Enforcement are also coordinating with their counterparts at all levels to steer resources to the Lewiston community. Our Department will continue to be there to support Lewiston in the days and weeks ahead.
“Though the situation remains fluid, one thing is clear: yet another community has been devastated by a mass shooting. Too many Americans, in Lewiston and across the country, woke up today without a loved one in their life because of a senseless act of gun violence. Americans deserve to feel safe when they go to a bowling alley or a bar – just as they deserve to feel safe when they go to school, to worship, to the grocery store, to a parade, or to any other event or place in their daily lives. The Department of Homeland Security will continue its work, alongside its partners, to prevent these tragedies in every community, everywhere.”
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