A Message From Our Executive Director

As chaos and cruelty from the federal government continue to surge, communities are responding with resistance and legal battles at the local level. This is happening across the country in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and here in Maine, as we push back against attacks on due process, the rule of law, and human rights.

In January, when the enhanced ICE “Operation Catch of the Day” came to Maine, masked ICE officers targeted Black and Brown residents, chased them down in their cars, and arrested and detained over 200 people. Although ICE claimed they were after “the worst of the worst” and those with serious criminal histories, a large number had pending immigration cases, work authorization, and no criminal records. Many detentions were unlawful, as federal court orders are now demonstrating.

“We are pushing back against attacks on due process, the rule of law, and human rights. ”

In this newsletter you can read about ILAP’s rapid response to help people get released from detention during the ICE operation, our collaborations with partners and attorneys, and our continued detention work as high levels of immigration enforcement and arrests continue in Maine.

Thanks to the swift and generous support of donors, foundations, and businesses, ILAP was able to respond quickly and successfully during the ICE operation. In the past three months, we have helped 39 clients get released from detention. We are now building expertise and capacity to deepen our federal habeas and immigration bond work. We anticipate this need will continue and likely grow over the coming years, with unprecedented federal funding for ICE and CBP, and a deportation campaign that dominates the administration’s agenda.

In addition to our legal response to ICE operations, we have also expanded community outreach to get accurate immigration law information to communities in all sixteen counties, and we have increased walk-in hours to provide legal guidance to people concerned about their immigration status. As always, we continue our other direct legal services work and collaborate with partners to advocate for laws that will protect immigrant communities.

To stay informed on immigration updates you can sign up for ILAP’s monthly “Golden Door” email newsletter ilapmaine.org/connect and you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit our website at ilapmaine.org to get information about legal rights and preparedness and to make an appointment at ILAP.

To request legal help for someone who has been detained by immigration officials you can complete this form: ilapmaine.org/detention.

SUE ROCHE
Executive Director