The Maine State Legislature’s Judiciary Committee came to three different recommendations on Wednesday to three bills prescribing how state and local authorities should interact with federal immigration enforcement agencies.
One bill, aimed at streamlining cooperation between state and federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was voted “ought not to pass” on party lines. Two other bills restricting cooperation with federal authorities were postponed, with one tabled and the other carried over to the next legislative session.
Representative Mike Soboleski (R-Phillips), who introduced LD 1656 to enhance state and federal cooperation, defended its necessity, arguing it would improve transparency and security across Maine’s law enforcement agencies.
“My bill represents an important step in ensuring that Maine’s state and local government entities can cooperate effectively with federal law enforcement in a manner that enhances the safety and security of all Mainers,” Soboleski said in testimony earlier in the session. “By facilitating compliance with federal immigration law, this bill promotes transparency, consistency, and accountability across government operations.”
Despite his arguments, the bill received a party-line ought not to pass and will advance to the House floor for further debate and voting.
Representative Deqa Dhalac’s (D-South Portland) LD 1971, which seeks to restrict law enforcement agencies from engaging in state and local immigration enforcement in coordination with federal authorities, was unanimously tabled until Monday—the final scheduled meeting of the Judiciary Committee this year. If the bill is not taken up then, it may expire without further legislative action.
[RELATED: Democrats Opposed to Immigration Enforcement Put Forward Bill to Stop Local Police from Aiding Feds]
Representative Ambureen Rana’s (D-Bangor) LD 1259 would prevent state and local law enforcement agencies from entering into contracts with federal immigration enforcement authorities. The bill, which would reduce collaboration between Maine law enforcement and federal immigration officials, was voted to be carried over to the next legislative session. This means lawmakers will not act on it for up to a year.
The fate of the three bills highlights the partisan divide over immigration enforcement policies in Maine’s legislature. Soboleski’s bill will likely spark spirited debate in the House, though its chances of passage remain slim. Dhalac’s bill may face a final committee vote on Monday, while Rana’s proposal will remain dormant until the next session.
A previous version of Dhalac’s bill made its way through the Criminal Justice Committee along party lines before reaching the House floor, where it was rerouted back to the Judiciary Committee—a rare procedural move. Whether the bill will face another vote or quietly expire remains uncertain as the legislative session nears its end.
