Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is raising concerns about reports attorneys have been prohibited from accompanying clients during routine check-ins at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Maine.
Pingree has sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying that preventing legal counsel from attending such visits undermines constitutional protections.
Pingree also says it erodes public confidence in Homeland Security’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
She also says it erodes public confidence in Homeland Security’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Blocking access to legal counsel is incompatible with our values as a nation—as well as DHS’s stated commitments to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law,” Pingree stated in the letter. “If DHS or ICE maintain such a stance, I ask that you provide in writing the policy that allows for legal counsel to be turned away from your facilities.”
In addition, Pingree has requested a tour of the ICE field office in Scarborough, citing concerns from local town staff who have sought to engage with the facility but have been denied entry.
“Clear and consistent communication with community leaders, advocacy organizations, and local officials fosters greater transparency and ensures that enforcement operations are implemented fairly and humanely,” Pingree wrote. “Without these relationships, DHS risks deepening mistrust and eroding the very public confidence it requires to operate effectively.”
Last week, Pingree asked for transparency from immigration enforcement after they arrested a parent outside a Portland school the previous week.
Pingree sent a letter asking Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a full accounting of the arrest, including their justification for making an arrest near a school.
