A new law in Maine will limit state and local law enforcement agencies’ cooperation with federal immigration officials. The law, which is set to take effect, restricts state and local law enforcement agencies, including jails, from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement.

Key Provisions

Law enforcement agencies will be prohibited from reaching out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents for translation services if they encounter a person who does not speak English, and they generally may not provide personal information for civil immigration enforcement. The law also restricts local and state agencies from holding people for ICE based solely on civil immigration enforcement.

Another law taking effect prohibits employees at public schools, state colleges, public libraries, healthcare facilities, and child-care facilities from voluntarily allowing immigration officers into nonpublic areas or granting access to protected records without a judicial warrant or other applicable legal authority.

Immigrant rights advocates say the new laws will improve community trust in Maine officials to ensure public safety, regardless of immigration status. The ACLU of Maine, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, and civil legal aid provider Maine Equal Justice held a news conference about the new laws targeting ICE operations.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.