AUGUSTA, Maine – A long list of Mainers urged state lawmakers on Monday to pass legislation making it illegal for local police to act as federal immigration officers.
For more than three hours, legislators, immigrants, activists, attorneys and community members testified before the Legislature’s judiciary committee in support of two proposed bills aimed at limiting the power of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters.
Two people testified in opposition to the bills, including Kennebec County Sheriff Ken Mason, representing the Maine Sheriffs Association. Mason, who said the state’s sheriffs are in unanimous opposition, argued that the bills would limit the ability of law enforcement to keep the public safe.
LD 1259, sponsored by Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, would prohibit state or local law enforcement agencies or officers from entering a certain type of contract — through what’s known as the 287(g) program — to assist federal immigration enforcement authorities.
LD 1971, sponsored by Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, aims to protect workers in Maine by clarifying the relationship of state and local law enforcement agencies with federal immigration authorities.
More than 40 Mainers gave in-person testimony in support of the bills, including some who detailed incidents of alleged racial profiling by local law enforcement and immigration officers that have made it unsafe for immigrants to go to work, the doctor or school.
Jennifer Temple of Lincolnville, who spoke in support of the two bills, said that while she is white, one of her daughters is a person of color.
“I keep learning that people, brown people like my daughter, have been disappearing; this terrifies me,” she said. “We now carry her citizenship papers whenever we leave home. Trusted friends have copies just in case. We have electronic versions stored on our phones and computers. This is no way for a family to live.”
Temple, like many others, said that deputizing local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement turns every routine encounter into a potential deportation risk, impacting people with no criminal history.
“The politics of fear becomes real fear when your child could be driving home from their summer job, going a few miles over the speed limit, and instead of getting her first speeding ticket, she could wind up being detained, just because she doesn’t look like she was born here,” Temple said. “It breaks my heart that this is our reality. I support this bill because now is the time for the government of Maine to stand up for and behind the people of Maine — all people of Maine, not just the white ones.”
Maine Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Cumberland, asked Mason about protocols for stopping immigrants and asking passengers in cars for identification, and what would make them reach out to immigration officials.
“We don’t target people just because they don’t speak English,” Mason said, adding that deputies ensure their own safety by asking passengers for documentation.
But Mason said he could not answer Talbot Ross’ question about protocol or policy, adding that deputies stop for criminal violations — not for immigration-related reasons.
“We do not enforce immigration laws,” he said. “We call the border patrol if they have no documentation.”
By 5:15 p.m., the legislative hearing was still continuing, with more people waiting to testify in support of the bills.
“These bills will protect us from federal overreach,” said Kenney Miller of Rockland, pointing to research showing that many arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, involve local law enforcement. “When we join together we can triumph over bullies.”
