Community Strength Amid Rapid-Fire Cruelty
Reports from the Ground
“What do I do if my parents are taken by ICE?”
“When the president talks about ‘illegal aliens,’ is he talking about us?”
These are the kinds of questions kids are having to ask.
People’s rights and basic human dignity are being disregarded on a daily basis. Increasingly, immigration officials and other law enforcement agencies are not enforcing rules and laws, but blatantly bending and breaking them.
At the same time, we are witnessing the deep-rooted strength of immigrant communities and the collective resistance of people coming together to defend people’s humanity amid the onslaught of inhumane policies. Here at ILAP, we are fighting tirelessly for the rights of our clients and all immigrants.
The Trump administration’s attacks on due process and basic human rights are both new and old - rooted in the history and structure of this country’s immigration system and happening at a scale and intensity ILAP has not witnessed in the organization’s 30+ years.
The impacts of these rapid-fire policies are personal, deeply impacting individuals, families, and our communities now and into the future.
Everyday, ILAP is working to educate our community about their rights, advocate for people whose rights have been violated, and safeguard rights and due process for the future. From our unique vantage point as immigration lawyers and advocates, we share the following stories about the human impact of the Trump administration’s actions - and what resistance looks like amid the cruelty of inhumane policies and actions.
All names have been changed to protect people’s identity.
“Jon” was leaving for work when he saw an immigration officer outside his apartment in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Jon knew he had successfully submitted his asylum application, following all the rules for the process, and didn’t have anything to hide. Jon is outgoing and loves making new connections with people. He chatted with the officer, who was there looking for someone who no longer lived in the building. Jon tried to help answer his questions and also told him about himself. Later that week, immigration officials came back to Jon’s apartment to arrest and detain him.
ILAP has been working to educate community members about their rights so people can do their best to protect themselves and their community. ILAP offers resources on our website and has been providing “Know Your Rights” education in consults and community events. This work remains critical and ongoing.
ILAP is raising urgent concerns about ICE’s growing practice of transferring individuals detained in Maine to remote immigration detention centers across the country. These transfers typically occur without notice and cut people off from loved ones and legal counsel, making it more difficult to fight their cases and protect their rights.
Recently, one of ILAP’s longtime clients - whom we’ve represented for nearly four years - was taken into ICE custody at Cumberland County Jail. ICE told him he was being transferred out of state, triggering serious concern about our ability to continue representing him. Based on many similar cases, we had every reason to believe ICE intended to follow through.
Fortunately, the transfer didn’t happen, and we believe that’s because we sued. ILAP filed a federal habeas corpus petition - the first in the organization’s history - to stop the transfer and protect our client’s access to counsel. The court ultimately accepted ICE’s assurance that there were no current plans to transfer our client and denied the petition. Crucially, however, the court made clear that if ICE’s plans change, ILAP must be given notice and may return to court – even after a transfer.
Even the threat of transfer had serious consequences for our client and legal team. It caused fear and uncertainty and required urgent legal intervention. ILAP will continue using every legal tool to defend our clients and challenge the systems that seek to deny them access to justice.
In April, the Wells Police Department became the first town in Maine to enter into an official agreement with ICE. Since that decision, Wells residents and others across Maine have been registering their dissent in public meetings, on the streets, and through op-eds, testimony, emails, and phone calls. As this newsletter goes to print, the Wells policy has been paused and the state is considering legislation to limit collaboration with ICE.
“Natalie” was driving through Oxford County when she saw there had been a car accident. Concerned for her fellow human beings, she stopped to help. When local police showed up on the scene, they profiled her, inquiring into her immigration status, and then called immigration officers. Natalie, who is lawfully seeking asylum, was taken from the side of the road and whisked to a detention center on the other side of the country.
While Natalie remained in immigration detention, ILAP Policy Director Lisa Parisio shared her story with the Judiciary Committee at the State House during testimony in support of a bill proposing to limit collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies.
