Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition (MIRC)

We'll be testifying on LD 2176. You should too!
Use this link for submitting testimony online 👇🏾
mainelegislature.org/testimony
#Maine #tenantrights #tenantsrights

Mainers detained by ICE are coming home by the dozens Despite the Trump administration's push for mass detentions and deportations, many who were swept up in 'Operation Catch of the Day' last month were found to pose no danger to their communities.

To all who joined us over the past few months of connecting people with legal services, mutual aid, and community support: THANK YOU.

Our efforts are paying off as people return to their families and communities here in Maine. And there's plenty more to do.
www.pressherald.com/2026/03/01/m...

'We are human': Saco man speaks out about experience after being detained by ICE A man in Saco who was detained by ICE in January is speaking out about his experience.

"Nzeza says he was on his way to see his wife, who was recovering from a cesarean section, and their newborn child who was in the NICU. Instead, he found himself being taken out of state to the Burlington, Massachusetts ICE facility."
wgme.com/news/local/w...

Mufalo Chitam was just announced as a recipient of The Courage Project award. Learn more ➡️ thecourageproject.org

Please continue using the Maine Immigrant Defense Hotline to seek resources for your family and your neighbors, and for reporting possible ICE/CBP sightings to be verified. It exists to provide both of these services across the state.

ICYMI on NPR: Detained asylum seekers are coming home to Maine, and telling their stories. Listen 👇🏾
www.npr.org/2026/02/18/n...

About a dozen workers detained in Skowhegan immigration raid, advocates say The arrests marked the second raid this month by federal immigration agents on workers traveling to Backyard Farms in Madison.

More farmworker arrests by CBP yesterday. If you know individuals or families impacted — either from the detentions or from sheltering in place — please reach out to the Maine Immigrant Defense Hotline for resource referrals: (207) 544-9989
www.centralmaine.com/2026/02/25/a...

Judges in Maine cases admonish ICE for falsehoods and violating court orders Four federal judges have ordered ICE to release detainees after discovering the agency filed documents that were false or ignored a judge’s order.

“I was shocked to see the reports that law enforcement would go so far as to lie to the court, and even more shocked that they would deliberately ignore a court’s order.” ~Walter McKee, an Augusta-based criminal defense lawyer
www.bangordailynews.com/2026/02/23/m...

Check out a few pages from our latest newsletter. Read it all online with links, and sign up to get it in your email: conta.cc/4kLv8kV

Last week's data 👇🏾

Today marks one month since the surge of ICE/CBP/HSI began in Maine. Here's our Hotline data of what's occurred and an analysis of where it's going next if DHS isn't reined in soon. (It's not too late to TAKE ACTION on that: bit.ly/DontFundICE )

DHS heads towards shutdown after funding bill fails in Senate Democrats block a funding bill in the Senate, after disagreement over putting new restrictions on immigration agents

Keep the pressure on! Update on DHS funding: A procedural vote on Thursday fell short of the number required, leaving it stalled ahead of a midnight Saturday deadline.... The Senate is on a week-long recess but could be called back if a deal is reached.
From www.bbc.com/news/article...

Maine Rock Against Racism presents Rock Salt Resistance | Benefit Concert The Maine Rock Against Racism presents Rock Salt Resistance, a benefit show for The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition | all-ages

Join us 2/20, 7pm for the Rock Salt Resistance benefit concert!
www.eventbrite.com/e/maine-rock...

Vermont State Police arrest protesters at ICE surveillance facility in Williston State police arrested 11 people and cited two others on trespassing charges Monday after the group declined to leave a Williston building that houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

"It often feels like we're a little bit powerless, but I think we're slowly making progress on this, and we're going to keep going..." ~Julie Macuga, a community organizer
www.mainepublic.org/2026-02-10/v...

Mark you calendars!
#Iftar #friendship #Maine #TurkishFood

URGENT: Congress is deciding right now whether or not to give ICE more money, while billions in federal funds are being cut from things that help Americans get by, like health care and food assistance in Medicaid and SNAP. TAKE ACTION 👇🏾
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

New year, new look, new narrative. Today, we’re launching our rebranded Substack: “Charting a New Narrative on Immigration.”

Welcome to a new era of pro-immigration storytelling. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐭.

ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, monthslong expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.

DHS has carried out a secret campaign to expand ICE’s physical presence with more than 150 leases across the US, including Portland, Maine, with a new office at the One City Center building. 👇🏾
www.wired.com/story/ice-ex...

Federal agents detain 17 workers in Skowhegan, witness says Agents stopped a busload of workers heading to Backyard Farms in Madison early Tuesday morning, the bus driver said.

News coverage of CBP/ICE raid: www.centralmaine.com/2026/02/10/f...

Statement on CBP/ICE raid at Skowhegan farm today. Read it with links here: maineimmigrantrights.org/major-immigr...

Take action to stop the funding of ICE terror and abuse 👇🏾 actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

Community Preparedness Skillshare Hosted by NO ICE for MEOver the last two weeks, Mainers with diverse experience and backgrounds rapidly and skillfully activated in response to ICE’s escalating and ongoing operations -- from seasoned...

Anyone looking to hone their solidarity skillset, check out this event in Portland, Maine today: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...

'An impossibility': Negotiations to reform ICE sputter as shutdown looms for DHS Congress has two weeks to fund DHS as Democrats demand changes to rein in ICE and CBP. It's not going well. The top Senate Republican doubts they'll reach a deal in time.

Looking to better understand the DHS funding debate? 👇🏾
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

Tell Governor Mills to Protect Maine Tenants We call upon the Portland City Council to issue a resolution calling on Governor Janet Mills to enact an immediate eviction moratorium during the next 60 days to protect Maine residents facing housing...

MIRC supports the call for an eviction moratorium in Maine to protect those who've been in hiding from the racial profiling by ICE that is tearing apart families.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

Maine immigration enforcement appears to have slowed since surge, but effects linger Observers say 'normal' enforcement during the Trump administration is far from normal.

"MIRC’s Ruben Torres said he doesn’t know whether DHS will ramp up its focus on Maine again.... But the data gives a clue about what ICE’s operations looked like before Maine became a focal point in President Trump’s immigration crackdown."
www.pressherald.com/2026/02/03/m...

MIRC Director Mufalo Chitam on Democracy Now! this morning with Amy Goodman and Juan González. Check it 👇🏾
www.democracynow.org/2026/2/3/por...

Take Action to Protect Maine’s Public Schools, Hospitals, Daycares, and Libraries from ICE Contact your Maine state representative and senator today and urge them to support LD 2106!

TAKE ACTION: Ask your legislator to support LD 2106 ➡️ bit.ly/PassLD2106

See our new report, ICE Apprehensions in Maine, 2024-2025. ➡️ bit.ly/4tbIQkM

For those still sheltering in your home or in hiding elsewhere, we can't tell you if or when it's safe to resume a normal life for you or your families. But we can show you the best information we have indicating a significant slowdown in ICE sightings across the state over the past week.

ICE data from Maine last year shows what we've come to expect: The vast majority of individuals apprehended over the past 2 years were not convicted of crimes, and a substantial portion had no criminal charges whatsoever.
Read the full report online: bit.ly/4tbIQkM