Mike Collins

Mike Collins
Birthplace	Georgia, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	U.S. Representative from Georgia
Known for	U.S. Representative for Georgia; authorship of the Laken Riley Act

Mike Collins is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for a congressional district in Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Collins has built his political identity around his background in the trucking industry, his alignment with former President Donald Trump, and his legislative work on immigration enforcement. He is the author of the Laken Riley Act, a piece of legislation focused on immigration detention policy that became one of his signature legislative achievements. As of 2026, Collins is actively campaigning for a seat in the United States Senate, seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the 2026 Georgia U.S. Senate election. His career in Congress has been marked by vocal support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Georgia and strong advocacy for stricter immigration laws, while also drawing scrutiny from a congressional ethics investigation into his conduct and that of a former top aide.

Early Life

Mike Collins is from the state of Georgia, where he developed roots in the trucking industry prior to entering politics. At campaign events, Collins has highlighted his background in trucking as a formative experience that shaped his political outlook and connected him to working-class voters in the state. During a 2026 appearance before the Troup County Republican Party meeting in LaGrange, Georgia, Collins referenced his "trucking roots" as a key part of his personal narrative and qualifications for public office. Details regarding his exact date of birth, family background during childhood, and upbringing beyond his Georgia origins and trucking industry connections are not well documented in available sources.

Career

Trucking Industry

Before entering politics, Collins was involved in the trucking business in Georgia. He has frequently cited this private-sector experience as central to his identity and political philosophy. At Republican Party gatherings and campaign events, Collins has drawn on his trucking background to present himself as a businessman-turned-politician who understands the concerns of working Georgians.

U.S. House of Representatives

Mike Collins serves as a U.S. Representative from Georgia in the United States Congress. During his tenure in the House, Collins has focused heavily on immigration policy and law enforcement issues, positioning himself as one of the more vocal proponents of stricter immigration enforcement within the Republican caucus.

The Laken Riley Act

One of Collins's most prominent legislative accomplishments is the authorship of the Laken Riley Act. The legislation, named in connection with the case of Laken Riley, addresses immigration detention and enforcement policy. In February 2026, Collins spoke at a memorial service with Riley's family on the anniversary of her death, discussing both his faith and his role in crafting the legislation. The act became a central element of Collins's legislative record and a prominent part of his political brand, particularly as he began campaigning for the U.S. Senate.

Immigration Enforcement and ICE Support

Collins has been a vocal supporter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its operations in Georgia. In February 2026, when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) purchased a warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia for use as an ICE detention center, Collins — whose congressional district includes Social Circle — played an active role in facilitating the arrangement. According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, Collins "served as the middleman between DHS and local" officials in the process of establishing the facility. Collins publicly commented on the purchase and expressed support for the expansion of ICE operations in his district, framing it as part of broader efforts to enforce immigration law at the federal level.

His support for ICE and his role in the Social Circle detention center acquisition were consistent with his broader legislative agenda, which has prioritized immigration enforcement as a central policy concern throughout his time in Congress.

Ethics Investigation

Collins's congressional tenure has not been without controversy. In early 2026, new details emerged regarding an ethics investigation into Collins and a former top aide. The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), a congressional watchdog agency, recommended that Collins be subpoenaed by a House committee as part of the investigation. The Georgia Recorder reported in January 2026 that the OCE had released additional details about the nature and scope of the inquiry, though the full findings of the investigation remained under review.

The recommendation for a subpoena indicated that the watchdog agency believed further investigation was warranted and that Collins or his office had not fully cooperated with the initial inquiry. The investigation involved both Collins and a former senior staff member, though specific allegations and the ultimate resolution of the matter were not fully detailed in public reporting as of February 2026.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2026, Collins announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in Georgia, seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the general election. Collins entered a competitive Republican primary, joining at least two other Republican candidates vying for the nomination.

Collins began actively campaigning across the state, making appearances at local Republican Party meetings and events. In a notable campaign stop in late February 2026, Collins addressed the Troup County Republican Party meeting in LaGrange, Georgia, where he made his case for the Senate seat. During the event, Collins emphasized three pillars of his candidacy: his background in the trucking industry, his close ties to former President Donald Trump, and his authorship of an immigration bill — understood to be the Laken Riley Act — as evidence of his legislative effectiveness.

The LaGrange appearance was reported by the LaGrange Daily News, which noted that Collins was pitching himself as the candidate best positioned to defeat Ossoff in the general election. His emphasis on Trump ties reflected a broader strategic calculation in the Republican primary, where alignment with the former president remained a significant factor in winning GOP voters in Georgia.

According to The New York Times, three Republicans were competing in the primary as of February 2026, with the winner set to face Ossoff in the general election. The race was seen as one of the more competitive Senate contests in the 2026 midterm election cycle, given Georgia's status as a closely contested swing state in recent election cycles.

Political Positions

Immigration

Immigration enforcement has been the defining policy issue of Collins's political career. His authorship of the Laken Riley Act, his vocal support for ICE operations, and his facilitation of a new ICE detention facility in Social Circle, Georgia, collectively demonstrate a consistent legislative and political focus on stricter immigration enforcement. Collins has framed immigration as both a public safety issue and a matter of federal law enforcement, and his campaign for the U.S. Senate has continued to center on this theme.

Alignment with Donald Trump

Collins has positioned himself as closely aligned with former President Donald Trump and has made this alignment a central component of his political identity. At the Troup County GOP meeting in LaGrange, Collins touted his "Trump ties" as part of his appeal to Republican primary voters. This positioning reflects the broader dynamics of Republican primary politics in Georgia, where Trump's endorsement and political brand continue to carry significant weight among the party's base.

Personal Life

Collins has discussed his Christian faith publicly, including at political and memorial events. In February 2026, he spoke about his faith at a memorial service for Laken Riley, connecting his personal beliefs to his legislative work on the Laken Riley Act. Beyond his public expressions of faith and his trucking industry background, detailed information about Collins's family life, marital status, and personal interests is not extensively documented in available sources.