Immigration

Mills plans to hold onto the legislation, which would have limited how much local and state police in Maine can collaborate with federal immigration agents seeking to round up and deport non-citizens.

Speakers at the rally urged attendees to join an effort to get the Cumberland County Jail to stop housing people for ICE.

Immigration lawyers say many of the arrests are the result of informal cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. The state legislature is debating a bill to restrict that cooperation.

The group No ICE for ME says it's collected nearly 3,000 signatures on a petition to end cooperation with ICE.

The bill, aimed at preventing local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law, faces additional votes in the House and Senate.

During a webinar last week, an immigration lawyer encouraged employers to have a plan in place as the Trump administration ramps up workplace raids.

Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam made the announcement at a select board meeting last night.

An overflow crowd in Augusta testified largely in favor of the bills, but several law enforcement associations object to the measures.

A statement released Wednesday by Customs and Border Patrol says the jump in arrests is due to increased enforcement operations.

A Wells police captain said it would save time and resources in specific scenarios. But an immigration lawyer said ICE is using the program to expand detention and deportation efforts nationally.