(The Center Square) – Maine Republican leaders are blaming a new “sanctuary” law for heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration as the state braces for an influx of ICE agents.
Second-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and other top Maine Democrats have issued public warnings in the past week that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities may soon be descending on the state’s two largest cities, Portland, and Lewiston, as part of second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Mills said federal authorities have refused to say whether they are planning enhanced immigration law enforcement in the state.
But Republican lawmakers say Mills’ decision to allow a bill limiting cooperation between Maine law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to become law has put the state in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
In a statement, Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, R-Aroostook, said the governor’s decision not to veto the bill “handcuffs” local law enforcement from helping federal authorities apprehend potentially dangerous individuals.
“This is what happens when you have a governor who puts political brinkmanship over the safety of Maine citizens,” he said. “Her actions place law enforcement and the general public at heightened risk.”
Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matthew Harrington, R-York, said the potential visits by federal agents is “self-imposed and self-created” by the state’s Democratic leadership.
“When federal law enforcement is able to coordinate with local law enforcement, efforts can be more targeted; and situations like this can be avoided entirely,” Harrington said. “The best thing for our communities would be for local law enforcement to be able to share their valuable insights with their federal partners.”
In December, Mills allowed the bill – approved by the Legislature of majority Democrats – to become law without her signature and strongly criticized the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. She also repealed an executive order issued in 2011 by then-Republican Gov. Paul LePage, which called for fostering more cooperation between state and federal officials on immigration enforcement.
Democrats who backed the “sanctuary” state bill said allowing local police to cooperate with ICE operations makes communities less safe because it dissuades people from reporting crime for fear of deportation. They say the new law won’t restrict federal officials from apprehending dangerous criminals in the state.
Republicans blasted Mills for not vetoing the bill, saying it will make the state less safe and potentially impact millions of dollars in federal grant funding the state receives from the federal government, with the Trump administration threatening to freeze funding for “sanctuary” states and communities.
Last month, Maine border control officials say they apprehended an “unprecedented” number of individuals over the past year even as illegal crossings along the U.S.-Canada border plummet.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Houlton Sector said of the 725 individuals apprehended included members of criminal gangs like MS-13, SATG, and Tren de Aragua, as well as an individual with an Interpol Red Notice for murder.