The ACLU of Maine learned of increased ICE detention in Maine and is seeking more information about local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The ACLU of Maine filed information requests today to uncover how local law enforcement is supporting the president’s “mass deportation” efforts by cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
Previously, the ACLU of Maine learned that Two Bridges Regional Jail (TBRJ) in Wiscasset had begun detaining up to 25 people for ICE, and Cumberland County Jail (CCJ) in Portland had ramped up detainment, holding 80 people for ICE as of April 16.
As part of processing and removal operations, ICE and CBP often use state and local law enforcement resources to arrest and detain people they suspect do not have proper immigration documentation. This includes using staff time, facilities like jails and prisons, and vehicles. Once in detention, people are often subjected to harsh conditions and transferred between detention facilities without notice, harming their welfare and access to legal counsel.
The ACLU of Maine initially asked every sheriff in Maine for basic information about the relationship between each sheriff’s office and ICE and CBP. All counties except Somerset and Hancock responded to initial requests. CCJ and TBRJ responded that they have agreements with the U.S. Marshals service and are currently holding ICE detainees in their jails based on those agreements.
Following these initial responses, the ACLU of Maine filed requests for information from state and federal agencies under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the state Freedom of Access Act (FOAA):
-
FOAA requests to Franklin, Somerset, and Hancock County Sheriffs for records about their communication and cooperation with ICE and CBP. These counties failed to respond to our initial requests or sent incomplete information.
- FOAA requests to the towns of Wells, Monmouth, and Winthrop, all of which have signed agreements to help ICE carry out federal immigration enforcement, known as 287(g) agreements. The ACLU of Maine is requesting the full agreements and any related financial or operational documents.
- FOIA requests to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Field Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for information on contracts with Maine jails and how many people ICE can detain in Maine jails.
“It’s crucial for Maine’s people to know how their public officials may be supporting federal immigration enforcement, which often violates people’s constitutional rights,” said ACLU of Maine Staff Attorney Anahita Sotoohi. “Valued members of our communities are being detained with little to no information regarding their circumstances. Immigration detention is often rife with civil rights violations and dehumanizes people as they are ripped away from their families and communities over civil legal matters – not criminal charges or a threat to public safety.”
“Abuses of power and attacks on due process threaten all people, regardless of immigration status,” continued Sotoohi. “When due process is undermined for some, all people are at risk as power is consolidated and our system of checks and balances is dismantled.”
