Tell your Maine legislators to support LD 2106! 

Increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as part of the dehumanizingly named ‘Operation Catch of the Day,’ is creating constant fear and anxiety for so many of our neighbors, leaving them scared to leave their homes, go to work, take their children to school, seek healthcare, and more.

LD 2106 would require ICE to have a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge to conduct enforcement at schools, healthcare facilities, daycares, and libraries. The bill also ensures that any information about a person’s immigration status that is held by these entities is properly protected, unless federal law or a valid judicial warrant compels its sharing. And importantly, the bill provides guidance and support to workers at these locations, ensuring they are not put in crisis situations and forced to make individual decisions.

Please:

1. Call or email your Maine state Representative and Senator TODAY and urge them to support LD 2106! Use ILAP’s form to quickly find and contact your legislators!
2. Sign up to submit oral or written testimony to the Judiciary Committee by 1pm on Thursday, January 29
   1. To Submit Written Testimony: Submit testimony at this link. 
   2. To Testify in Person: Bring 20 hard copies of your testimony with you to the hearing, plus a copy for you to read. – Thursday, January 29, at 1 pm, Judiciary Committee – Room 438, State House, Augusta.
   3. To Testify Online: Register to testify on Zoom at this link at least 30 minutes before the hearing starts.

Draft testimony and talking points:

Good afternoon, Senator Carney, Representative Kuhn, and Members of the Judiciary Committee,  

My name is _______ and I am a resident of  _______, Maine.   

I am writing/speaking today in support of LD 2106, which would restrict federal immigration enforcement from entering hospitals, libraries, daycares, and schools without a judicial warrant. These places serve as critical resources for thousands of individuals and families in our state. But many of our neighbors are too afraid to access these spaces because of the recent indiscriminate, violent actions of ICE. By restricting ICE’s access to these community places, we can ensure that everyone can use these basic services without fear. 

//Share a personal connection with a person or family affected.// 

We’ve seen online, in the media, and in our own lives that healthcare providers, teachers, and caregivers feel unsafe going to work, families are afraid to send their children to school, and people are afraid to seek medical care they need. These disruptions harm the public health and well-being of our entire community. LD 2106 would mitigate some of these impacts by prohibiting ICE from accessing sensitive locations that people rely on to meet their basic needs.  

In this frigid winter, many of our neighbors experiencing homelessness are also putting themselves at further risk due to fear of ICE. Libraries often serve as daytime warming shelters while also providing access to resources and information that can help unhoused people move out of homelessness. Hospitals and emergency rooms often serve as these individuals’ only source of healthcare. If our unhoused neighbors are afraid to use these locations, they may stay outside or avoid treatment — putting their lives at risk. LD 2106 could remove a barrier to potentially life-saving services for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.  

Please support LD 2106, and ensure that Maine’s schools, libraries, healthcare centers, and daycares are a safe place for all who need them.

Thank you for your time and consideration.