We’re suing Sanford for refusing to release public records related to its police department’s collaboration with federal immigration agents.
Over the past year, we have submitted 117 identical records requests to agencies all over Maine to understand how state and local law enforcement may be supporting federal immigration operations. 112 agencies responded in-full, but Sanford has refused to comply – a direct violation of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act.
Our requests sought incident reports about traffic stops that led to law enforcement transferring people to ICE or CBP custody. Sanford officials claimed they could not release incident reports because they contain confidential information. However, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has established that public records with confidential information are indeed public records, and they must be disclosed with appropriate redactions.
—The government is not above the law. Sanford must turn over their public records.
Anahita Sotoohi
Instead of engaging in good faith, Sanford officials suggested the ACLU of Maine seek a court order. So we sued, and we’ll see them in court.
Government transparency is a core pillar of a healthy and functional democracy. It is a crucial mechanism for people to understand what is happening in their communities and hold their governments accountable. Public officials work for the people, and they cannot operate in the shadows away from public scrutiny.
The ACLU of Maine is committed to shedding light on how government agencies operate throughout the state to inform the public and hold government officials accountable to the people and to the law.
The government is not above the law. Sanford must turn over their public records.
