A Message From Our Executive Director

We face a precipice at the cliff of democracy, and as the people living during this time in history, we hold the power and responsibility to force a turn towards justice.

To do this, we must demand due process and justice for everyone. This yet unrealized goal must remain in our vision and not the rearview mirror. The country has taken dramatic steps backwards in a shockingly short time. Those most vulnerable are under attack. Immigrants and communities of color in Maine and across the country are being grabbed off streets by masked ICE agents and disappeared into a draconian detention and deportation regime.

We must not give up hope or turn a blind eye to these atrocities. As individuals, communities, and as a collective movement across the country, we must push back against these acts of cruelty and lawlessness and towards the justice we demand.

And there is reason to have hope. At ILAP we see many people, organizations, communities, judges, and individuals inside the government doing the right thing, demanding the rule of law.

At ILAP we are working hard to defend clients and inform communities who are navigating a system of rapidly changing immigration policies and unlawful enforcement actions. We see community members supporting each other, judges issuing rulings grounded in law and conscience, and individual immigration officers granting asylum and other immigration cases. We see local, regional, and national organizations coming together to share information, strategize, and learn from each other. We see local communities rising up and pushing back against cooperation with ICE in their towns. This all gives us hope.

If we continue to stand together and push forward, we can avoid falling off the cliff of democracy and instead progress towards a system of real due process and justice for everyone.

In this newsletter, you can read about the work, collaborations, and advocacy ILAP is involved in, and learn how you can join these efforts.

Thank you for your solidarity and partnership!