Government Transparency

Government openness and transparency are cornerstones to a healthy democracy.

government transparency collage

Government openness and transparency are cornerstones of a healthy democracy and fight for access and fair process at all levels of government.

We can only hold our government accountable – and ensure that it is working on behalf of the people – when we shed light on what public entities and officials are doing. The ACLU of Maine advocates for strong laws that require transparency and public access, including to public meetings and government records, and we use open records requests to collect information relevant to protecting civil liberties.

The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Maine's Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) are crucial tools for ordinary people to provide checks and balances on elected officials. Filing requests and obtaining information is just a first step in keeping public officials transparent and accountable.

At the ACLU of Maine, we use FOIAs and FOAAs to gain insight into things like:

  • How local and state government are collaborating with ICE
  • How towns and cities across Maine are using Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) to create a system of mass surveillance
  • Whether towns and cities are complying with Maine law
  • Whether unhoused people are experiencing civil rights violations at a disproportionate rate

Visit our Public Records page to learn more.

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Public Records

The public's ability to access public records is at the foundation of a healthy democracy. Like voting, public records are an important tool for...

Maine's Cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration is using Maine to facilitate its mass deportation and detention efforts. We're demanding more information.

Explore Publication
Police ICE agent in blue monotone treatment

The Latest

Publication | Open Records Request
Know Your Rights Stopped by Police

Law Enforcement Policy FOAAs

Every law enforcement agency in Maine has written policies that govern its work. A new law means that Maine law enforcement agencies must make all of their policies available to the public.
Publication | Open Records Request
Law enforcement officer's at the door of a brick home.

ICE Out of Policing

See how Maine’s state agencies, counties, and police departments have historically collaborated with federal immigration agencies.
Publication | Open Records Request
Photo of a flock camera license plate reader

License Plate Readers and Public Surveillance

Maine law limits the use of ALPRs and other automated mass surveillance, but a company called Flock Safety has launched intensive marketing campaigns to towns throughout Maine.
Publication | Open Records Request
Shopping cart filled with the belongings of a homeless individual

Arrests of Homeless People in Maine

People without stable housing are arrested much more often than those with permanent housing, usually for nonviolent, low-level offenses. To better understand this disparity in our state, the ACLU of Maine is asking for public records related to the arrests of unhoused people.

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation

    • Cases
    • Campaigns (0)
    • Legislations (0)
Court Case
Oct 6, 2026

McGonigle v. Curran – Free Speech at Government Events

The government cannot ban people from public events just because elected officials can't handle their jokes. We sued the federal government for retaliating against our client by blocking her from an official, taxpayer-funded public event simply because she criticizes Vice President Vance online.
Court Case
Mar 12, 2026

ACLU of Maine v. City of Sanford – Public Records

We’re suing Sanford for refusing to comply with Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. We’re asking the Cumberland County Superior Court to order Sanford to turn over public information about their police department’s cooperation with ICE and CBP – something 112 other Maine agencies have already done.
Court Case
Jul 16, 2024

Human Rights Defense Center v. Municipal Risk Pool - Government Transparency

In a landmark decision, Maine’s highest court ruled that a government entity acted in bad faith when it withheld public documents. This ruling shows that Maine’s open records laws have teeth, and that when the government illegally denies access to public documents, it will pay the price.