The Golden Door: August 2025
ILAP recently released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the impact of our work and the communities we served last year. This work is only possible with the support of people like you, who share the belief that Maine is a home for ALL. Thank you for being a part of our community.
Immigration Law & Policy Updates
ILAP is committed to helping our community make sense of immigration news and its impact. Below is a summary of some key developments from the past few weeks, as of August 28, 2025.
PLEASE NOTE: All updates are subject to rapid change.
Immigration Announcement:
Trump administration issues new “sanctuary” list
What it Means:
In May, the Trump administration posted a list of “sanctuary” jurisdictions on the Department of Justice website, with the corresponding threat that it would be going after these jurisdictions in court. After public pressure that the list had no basis or criteria (among other objections), the DOJ webpage was quickly taken down.
In August, the administration posted a new “sanctuary” jurisdictions list. The Trump administration has consistently lost in court when trying to withhold federal funding and for similar attacks on these jurisdictions, as highlighted in a letter from Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation.
As a note, “sanctuary jurisdiction” is not a legal term and is language that is used to refer to jurisdictions that choose to follow the law and not voluntarily hand over state resources to the federal government. The 10th Amendment of the Constitution is clear that the federal government cannot commandeer the resources of the states for its own agenda.
Mothers sue Trump administration for deporting them and their U.S. citizen children without due process
Two families have sued the Trump administration, alleging “ICE violated its own policy and multiple federal laws when officers secretly detained the families in hotel rooms, denied them the opportunity to speak to family and make decisions about or arrangements for their minor children, denied them access to counsel, and deported them within less than a day in one case and just over 2 days in the other.”
Three of the four children in the lawsuit were U.S. citizen children, including a boy undergoing treatment for stage 4 kidney cancer. Read the full press statement from the National Immigration Project.
Chelmsford Immigration Court, which serves Maine, down to only seven judges
NPR reports that the Chelmsford Immigration Court, which covers all of Maine, has only seven immigration judges left, of the 21 that are supposed to staff the court. The article also notes that one of the judges is on detail to another jurisdiction and another is soon to retire.
Understaffing at the court presents serious due process concerns for Maine residents, especially with the dramatic uptick in arrests of noncitizens in Maine and beyond who are pursuing lawful statuses.
José Pineda, a man from Massachusetts with Temporary Protected Status, sues federal government after ICE unlawfully arrests and imprisons him
Mr. Pineda is suing the Trump administration for arresting him and detaining him, despite him having a lawful immigration status. Mr. Pineda’s claims include violation of his Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights as well as false imprisonment, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In a press release, Mr. Pineda states, “I came to this country for safety. ICE treated me like a criminal because of how I look and where I’m from—even though I followed every rule.”
Judge orders "Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in Florida to be closed and orders that people detained there be transferred and the facility be dismantled for unlawful failure to conduct an environmental review
The brutal immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” has been ordered to be dismantled, given environmental law violations. In her decision, the judge stated that the government “offered little to no evidence” why it was necessary to build an immigration detention facility in the Everglades and that it causes “irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area.”
In a press statement, Deputy Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Renata Bozzetto, said: “This camp violated human rights at every level. Simply put, it was a disaster waiting to happen. It caged people under unsafe tarps in a hurricane-prone geography, denied them basic medical care, and subjected them to systemic abuse. This detention camp brought to the surface the cruel reality of Florida’s immigrant detention sites — they are about punishment and dehumanization.”
ILAP Public Comment: Administration Must Restore Deferred Action for Vulnerable Immigrant Youth
ILAP joined partners across the nation in calling on the Trump administration to restore deferred action for children with Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification, in line with Congressional intent.
Congress created SIJ classification in 1990 to provide permanent protection and stability to noncitizen children who have been found to be abused, neglected, or abandoned by a parent. However, massive visa delays have left children who have received SIJ classification in limbo while they wait for visa availability.
To respond, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services put in place a deferred action policy in March 2022, providing children with SIJ classification protection from deportation and access to work permits while they wait in the backlog. The Trump administration has ended that policy, leaving these extraordinarily vulnerable children – who Congress meant to protect – at risk of detention and deportation.
Immigration Enforcement in Maine Receives More National Attention
A recent New York Times article spotlighted the ongoing community response in Wells to the community’s police chief diverting resources to engage in civil immigration enforcement through a 287(g) agreement. In the article, ILAP's policy director Lisa Parisio was quoted: “'We have tracked 17 minor traffic stops that have happened since March where more than 40 people have been handed over by local law enforcement to immigration officers.' This includes people with valid work permits and no criminal history.” The article also dives into the economic risks to Maine related to state and local law enforcement stepping out of their roles in order to assist federal immigration officers.
A Maine hotel owner made clear that if enforcement and the chilling effect keep immigration workers from coming to the state, “Maine’s $9 billion tourism economy, which draws 15 million visitors annually, ‘will collapse like a domino.”
Attorneys in other states are warning immigrants not to come work in Maine. They, and ILAP, have documented many cases of people who have valid work permits and are pursuing lawful statuses being handed over to immigration officers by Maine’s state and local law enforcement.
Local News Highlights
Co-Legal Director Melissa Brennan was the featured panelist in a Maine Calling segment on Maine Public Radio where she discussed what has been happening in Maine since January in terms of arrests, detentions, and deportations. She described the danger presented by state and local law enforcement partnering with ICE and how a minor traffic stop could lead to detention and attempted deportation.
She was later quoted in an article by the Center for Media and Democracy: “The reality is people are being essentially disappeared and are picked up roadside and their whereabouts may be unknown for days at a time.”
The Portland Press Herald covered the Black Excellence Awards, the signature annual event hosted by the Portland-based nonprofit, The Third Place. ILAP Executive Director Sue Roche attended on behalf of the organization, where ILAP was honored to receive an Active Ally Award.
For previous updates from ILAP, check out the links below:
June 13, 2025: Community Update
May 30, 2025: May Golden Door
ILAP in the News
Spectrum News featured an interview with Executive Director Sue Roche who shared about the toll and impact of the Trump administration's onslaught of anti-immigrant policies and actions.
Policy Director Lisa Parisio spoke with Maine Public about the insidious pattern of minor traffic stops resulting in immigration arrests and how this type of informal cooperation by local and state law enforcement is fueling the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda.
Co-Legal Director Melissa Brennan recently filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court on behalf of an ILAP client in an attempt to prevent his transfer out of state, away from long-standing legal counsel and community support. The Portland Press Herald covered the increasing prevalence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferring people in immigration detention to jails and prisons hundreds or thousands of miles away, often without notice.
The Penobscot Bay Press highlighted a benefit concert, organized by Stonington resident Geoff Warner, whose proceeds supported ILAP and another organization. ILAP was also among five community organizations to receive grants from Bates College's Harward Center for Community Partnerships to support work with immigrant communities in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Thank you, Geoff and the Harward Center!
ILAP in the Community
Across the state, community members are finding creative, heartfelt ways to support ILAP — and we’re so grateful.
The Defending Democracy group of concerned citizens on Peaks Island has had two Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich fundraisers where they raised $1,400 raised for ILAP.
Meanwhile, ILAP’s Maine Home for All campaign made an appearance at a recent Portland Hearts of Pine soccer game, with volunteers spreading the message that Maine is strongest when everyone feels welcome and protected. (Photo source: @dirigomaine on Instagram)
And if you’re near Rockport, don’t miss an upcoming community yoga event, where 25% of proceeds will be donated to ILAP. It’s a chance to care for yourself while supporting legal advocacy and justice for immigrants in Maine.
From soccer games to yoga studios to island kitchens — thank you to everyone using your time, talent, and creativity to build a more welcoming Maine.
Take Action: Support the Maine Solidarity Fund
Presente! Maine, in collaboration with a network of grassroots partners, has launched the Maine Solidarity Fund to support immigrant and trans Mainers facing cruel and threatening policy changes from the Trump administration. The fund will “cover bail, bond, and familial support for immigrant neighbors who are detained; increased healthcare costs for Trans community members; and legal support for both communities.”
Make a gift, or share the link below to help get the word out and strengthen this effort of solidarity and mutual aid.
Shared Voices
Every gift to ILAP carries a story — a belief, a memory, a personal connection to the immigrant experience and the values of justice and welcome. This spring, we asked supporters what inspires them to give. The responses we received were moving, personal, and deeply affirming of the shared values that fuel this work.
Some spoke of family history:
“We are a nation of immigrants and better for it in so many ways. My father immigrated with his family as a child — all four grandparents were immigrants. I believe in ‘welcoming the stranger’ and helping those in need.”
Others connected to the urgency of the moment:
““Your mission is so important, especially now. We all need to stand up for the human rights of every person in our country, whether they are here legally or not.””
“Need to support immigrants and keep America a welcoming country! They need us, we need them!”
And many reflected on the real-life barriers facing immigrants in our communities:
“Our system is confusing and overwhelming to navigate for all individuals, let alone folks who have made such an impressive and potentially traumatic journey. ILAP’s work supports New Mainers in so many ways, I don’t have enough space to list them all!”
Together, these reflections paint a powerful picture: that ILAP’s work is not just necessary — it’s deeply valued. It resonates with people’s identities, their hopes for our communities, and their commitment to a more just world.
“We believe in your mission, and we are all immigrants in the beginning in America. Everyone deserves a chance for a better life.”
To every person who responded, thank you. Your voice is part of a growing chorus of solidarity: it’s a reminder that in the face of injustice, we are not alone. Want to share what inspires you to support ILAP? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at contact@ilapmaine.org.
An Easy Way to Make an Impact
One of the simplest ways to support ILAP’s future is by naming us as a beneficiary of your retirement account. It’s a quick, flexible way to make a lasting impact — without changing your will. This type of planned gift is easy to set up and can be updated at any time. Just contact your plan administrator and fill out a beneficiary designation form. Want to explore this option? We’re here to help. Contact Marjorie Hankla at mhankla@ilapmaine.org.
For previous updates from ILAP, check out the links below:
August 8, 2025: Community Update
July 31, 2025: Immigrant Beacon
