It’s been a busy start to the year at the ACLU of Maine! Our legal team is excited to share updates on new and ongoing cases, and how we’re pushing back against the Trump administration’s abuses of power.
In March, we reached a major milestone in our effort to guarantee the right to an attorney for all people accused of a crime – just as the Sixth Amendment requires. The superior court ruled in our favor, ordering Maine to establish a plan to end the ongoing crisis. There’s still a lot to do, and we’ll explain where the lawsuit stands and what the court’s recent ruling means for the hundreds of Mainers currently without legal representation.
We’re also challenging Trump’s unconstitutional executive actions in three federal lawsuits:
- NHICS v. Trump: Blocking the president’s ban on birthright citizenship, a clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Smith v. Trump: Challenging First Amendment violations created by the president’s sanctions against the International Criminal Court
- Pasula v. DHS: Protecting international students whose status was illegally and abruptly terminated without due process.
We’re also demanding transparency from state and federal organizations around how Maine law enforcement may be aiding Trump’s “mass deportation” agenda. Mainers deserve to know how local resources are being used — especially when it comes to detaining members of our community.
Join us on Zoom on Thursday, May 15th, at 6 p.m., to meet our legal team and hear what we’ve been working on. With multiple lawsuits underway, a packed legislative session, and ongoing threats to civil liberties, there’s plenty to discuss, and we’d love to have you with us.
