ILAP Community Update: June 13
June 13, 2025
Dear Community,
Mass immigration enforcement is causing devastating and lasting harm here in Maine and across the country. People are living in fear, being suddenly ripped from their families, and the fundamental Constitutional rights that belong to all of us are being attacked and eroded.
Last week, the administration conducted largescale raids on immigrant communities in Los Angeles, and in response, civilians took to the streets in protest. Here in Maine, approximately 100 people rallied in Portland in solidarity. The administration has deployed the national guard on the streets of a U.S. city and is threatening to escalate, despite the recommendations of California’s Governor and L.A.’s mayor.
These words from Welcoming America ring true:
“We all deserve safety. Unrest in any community is concerning. Even more concerning: the treatment of our neighbors and turning Americans against one another. Today, we have a choice about how to respond: from our values or from our fears…This is a moment to resist efforts that use immigrants to strip away everyone’s rights to protest, speak out, and defend equal protection.”
ILAP joins people across the United States in calling for a de-escalation of a military response, the end of violent and cruel mass immigration enforcement policies, and for a country that respects the rights and dignity of everyone.
CALL TO ACTION
June 15th marks 13 years since immigrant youth and allies won the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. DACA was created to ensure immigrant youth could continue to live, go to school, and work in the country they call home, without fear of deportation.
As we face incredible challenges and the devastating threats of mass deportation policy, ILAP remains steadfast in continuing to call for a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and other undocumented people here in Maine and across the country.
To DACA recipients and all undocumented people in Maine: You are not forgotten. You deserve better. Your home is here.
The creation of DACA reminds us that when we organize, stand together, and never give up, change is possible. Join us in marking this year's DACA anniversary by taking action to support the Dream and Promise Act. This re-introduced legislation, even more critical now, would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, TPS holders, and others.
You can find contact information for your elected officials and more advocacy resources on ILAP's Take Action Resources page. Your voice matters - thank you for stepping up to make a difference.
Immigration Law & Policy Updates
LAP is committed to helping our community make sense of immigration news and its impact. Below is a summary of some key immigration law and policy developments during the first two weeks of June 2025.
PLEASE NOTE: All updates are subject to rapid change.
What It Means:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated TPS for Cameroon, affecting approximately 10,000 people, and TPS for Nepal, affecting approximately 13,000 people. Unless halted by the courts, TPS for Cameroon will end on August 4, 2025, and TPS for Nepal will end on August 5, 2025.
TPS safeguards people already in the U.S. when safe return to their home country is impossible. In calling on the administration to keep TPS protections in place for Cameroon, Members of Congress cited ongoing conflict, human rights abuses, and other conditions that warranted an extension and redesignation of TPS.
Supreme Court decision allows administration to move forward with terminating parole for 500,000 people
The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with terminating parole for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
In response, Human Rights First, one of the organizations challenging the administration in court, stated: “Our position remains the same: the Trump Administration is acting arbitrarily and unlawfully to attempt to terminate the lawful status of half a million people en masse, and we will not stand for it.” Justice Action Center called the decision the largest “de-legalization” decision in the modern era.
The Trump administration issues new travel ban
The administration issued a broad new travel ban, categorically banning visas for nationals of 12 countries and banning particular visas for 7 other countries.
ILAP’s Executive Director said: “The administration’s new travel ban is yet another baseless and discriminatory anti-immigrant measure that will have grave and lasting consequences on many levels. Its broad impacts will include fewer opportunities for people to escape life-threatening humanitarian crises, prolonged family separation, U.S. businesses being deprived of talent, and so much more.” Read ILAP’s full press statement here.
Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act reintroduced in Congress
ILAP applauds the re-introduction of the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act which would end the Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa backlog and help immigrant youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment to access permanent protection and stability sooner.
In addition to this important legislation, members of Congress are demanding information from the administration about the sudden decision to stop offering protection from deportation and work permits while these vulnerable youth wait for their cases to advance.
Learn more from the End the SIJS Backlog Coalition here.
PLEASE NOTE: This bill is NOT current law, it is a proposal at this time.
For previous updates from ILAP, check out the links below:
May 30, 2025: May Golden Door
May 12, 2025: Community Update
Know Your Rights
An important step you can take now to protect yourself is to learn your rights! See ILAP’s resources here.
Stay Connected:
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Members of the Maine Bar can support ILAP’s work by donating to the Campaign for Justice, a special collaborative fundraising effort by Maine’s legal community to support legal aid.
