A half dozen of Maine’s left-leaning non-profits have banded together to solicit donations for their Maine Solidarity Fund that will pay bail for illegal immigrants, and purchase transgender surgeries and drugs, their own appeals for cash indicate.
“Immigrant and Trans Mainers are facing unprecedented threats to their safety, dignity, and basic rights. Families are afraid to leave their homes. People are being detained without due process. Essential healthcare is becoming inaccessible. We must stand together to defend our most vulnerable community members and our collective rights,” says the fundraising page.
“The fund will cover bail, bond, and familial support for immigrant neighbors who are detained; increased healthcare costs for Trans community members; and legal support for both communities,” it continues.
The fundraiser set a $1 million goal. As of Thursday afternoon, 526 days remain to hit that goal, and it has so far raked in $21,697 from 184 backers. The fundraiser appears to have been active for a month, based on the first donation listed from “about a month ago.”
The money amassed under the fundraiser is set for use funding bail payments for illegal immigrants, legal fees to help illegal immigrants fight deportation proceedings, and support for families of detained illegal aliens.
Maine’s transgender community are also set to benefit from the donations, with money going towards “life-saving gender-affirming healthcare” that will not be covered by insurance, legal support for issues stemming from documents matching biological sex rather than self-identification, assistance in discrimination cases, and any travel costs necessary to help a trans-identifying Mainer procure surgeries.
Notably, the Solidarity Fund does not specify whether minors will be able to access their funding to procure transgender surgeries or drugs.
The fund is hosted on the website of Presente! Maine, a non-profit dedicated to helping illegal immigrants evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), acting as part of People’s Coalition for Safety & Justice (PCSJ).
The PCSJ is an alliance between a variety of left-wing non-profits, including:
- The Community Organizing Alliance (COA): focuses on empowering black and immigrant voices. No tax filings are yet available.
- Presente! Maine: helps illegal immigrants. Received $543,304 in federal funds according to 2023 Form 990 tax filings.
- MaineTransNet: supports gender transitions for minors. No recent tax filings are available.
- Gateway Community Services: supports migrant resettlement in the state. Received $1,313,116 in federal funding according to 2023 Form 990 tax filings.
- Khmer Maine: supports Cambodians living in Maine. Received no federal funds according to 2023 Form 990 tax filings.
- Community Change Inc.: teaches about “systemic racism.” No tax filings available.
The PCJS is not yet distributing funds.
