Rockland Council Limits Local Involvement in Federal Immigration Enforcement

ROCKLAND – The Rockland City Council today passed an ordinance to limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Following a robust public comment period, the measure passed with a vote of 4-1. It will amend the city code to state that “employees and resources cannot be used to assist, cooperate with, or facilitate any federal agency in any immigration enforcement operation, except where legally required to do so by state or federal law or court order.”

“Maine’s elected leaders should do all they can to protect their communities, and we are thrilled that Rockland has taken this decisive action,” said Michael Kebede, policy director at the ACLU of Maine. “Measures like this preserve local resources for local priorities, ensure Maine towns and cities are not complicit in or liable for federal abuses of power, and improve public safety by building trust between local law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve.”

Earlier this year, the Town of Wells was the only municipality to maintain a proactive agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following months of public activism, Wells withdrew from the agreement.

In an October 2025 poll, a majority of Maine voters said they disapproved of “the way the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, is doing its job.” More voters in both congressional districts disapprove of ICE than approve.

“We hope this momentum will encourage Governor Mills to allow LD 1971 to take effect at the start of the next legislative session,” continued Kebede. “Now is the time for Maine to make clear that we care about the safety of the thousands of people legally working in critical industries in every part of the state who came here to build a better life for their families.”