A bill barring state and local police agencies from working with federal agents on immigration enforcement is moving forward after passing the Maine Judiciary Committee.
The proposal comes after the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants in Maine and other states.
There have been several days of protests, with pockets of violence, in Los Angeles after President Trump ordered National Guard troops and Marines to protect ICE agents who conducted immigration raids at workplaces.
The Wells Police Department dropped its partnership with the federal government after backlash from the local community
The bill from Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, was amended Monday to clarify that police cooperation with federal agents would be allowed for non immigration activities, such as drug task forces.
It passed by a 7-6 margin, with Rep. Dani O’Halloran, D-Brewer, voting with Republicans against the proposal.
O’Halloran said she needed more time to consider the proposal and its last minute changes Monday. A number of Republicans on the committee expressed similar concerns, although with more reservations about cutting off collaboration on immigration enforcement.
State Representative Rachel Henderson R-Rumford was a vocal committee member to oppose the bill, saying it makes Maine a sanctuary state.
“We’re 100 percent hampering law enforcement from being able to work with federal law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration law, which are the law of the land,” said Henderson. “And if I’m an illegal foreign national and I’m coming into the country, I’m heading to Maine if this bill passes.”
Sen. Anne Carney D-Cumberland said the bill will save the state from hefty legal liability resulting from local police not being set up to handle immigration enforcement.
“When local county and state law enforcement entities and officials in any part of the country are doing this immigration enforcement work that they’re not trained to do, things happen that expose the department, and thus the municipality, county or state to tremendous liability for significant amounts of damages,” said Carney.
The bill now goes to the Maine House floor for consideration.
The committee delayed action until next year on another proposal from Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, that would ban local and state police from contracting with ICE.
