Bill Limiting State, Local Support for Immigration Enforcement Becomes Law

A bill limiting the use of Maine resources to support the president’s mass deportation agenda has become law and will take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. LD 1971 passed the Maine State Legislature in June 2025. It became law without the governor’s signature over the weekend.

LD 1971 became law amidst nationwide protests and backlash against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) killing of Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen Renee Good. The Minnesota killing is only one of many instances of federal officials committing violence during immigration enforcement actions, which have increased under the current administration.

This new law clarifies the role of state and local law enforcement by prohibiting their engagement in federal civil immigration enforcement activities. This includes conduct to “investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, stop, arrest, or search a person for [civil] immigration enforcement purposes.” The law will also prohibit detaining people on ICE hold requests, using federal immigration officers for translation, and performing other immigration enforcement activities.

The new law makes clear that Maine law enforcement must still comply with existing federal law, and that nothing in LD 1971 impacts Maine law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes and execute or respond to judicial warrants.

Throughout 2025, the ACLU of Maine uncovered widespread use of local resources to support immigration enforcement through numerous public records requests. For instance, in June of last year, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office asked other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a certain car and hold its passengers for Border Patrol. Officers from the Scarborough Police Department found and detained the car and its passengers, and then transferred them to Border Patrol custody. This transfer would likely have been unlawful if LD 1971 were in effect.

“From the first days of this administration, the president has pursued actions and messages that target immigrants in ways that violate core constitutional rights,” said ACLU of Maine Policy Director Michael Kebede. “This new law will ensure Maine towns and cities are not complicit in or liable for federal abuses of power, and will improve public safety by building trust between local law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve.”

As a state law, LD 1971 will not impact federal laws allowing federal officials to operate in Maine. The ACLU of Maine encourages all people to learn about their rights when interacting with ICE and CPB, protesting, and more.