New state laws going into effect Wednesday will impact how schools, landlords, hospitals and police in Maine can interact with immigration agents.
The new laws restrict cooperation with ICE, especially in cases where no arrest warrant is shown.
One of the laws gives authority to schools to deny sharing private information with ICE unless agents have a judicial warrant.
The measures were backed by immigration advocates who say ICE’s tactics have created fear in Maine’s communities.
The laws go into effect in the wake of the fatal shooting of Johan Sebastian Guerrero, a Colombian national, by an ICE agent in Biddeford this month.
In response to the new laws, DHS said some of the safest cities in America cooperate with ICE and that agents don’t go to schools or hospitals to make arrests.
The statement went on to read:
“While Maine sanctuary politicians continue to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Maine safe again.”
