Maine LD 2106: An Act to Prohibit the Disclosure of Nonpublic Records without Proper Judicial Review

Dear Sen. Carney, Rep. Kuhn and Honorable Members of the Judiciary Committee:

I am a professor at the University of Maine at Augusta, and, while I do not speak for my university, I am writing as an educator of many students from immigrant and refugee families to express my strong support for LD 2106.

Until last year, when the federal administration rescinded a 2011 policy that had limited immigration enforcement actions in locations deemed sensitive by the government such as hospitals, churches, and schools, students of immigrant families could feel safe attending school. Now that is no longer the case.

Recent immigration operations in our own state have rendered merely attending class a frightening enterprise. In this morning’s Portland Press Herald, it was reported that thousands of K-12 students have been absent as immigrant families have been keeping their children home; last Friday alone, more than 1,100 students stayed home from school in Portland.

These students are vital to Maine’s future, yet the actions of ICE are creating a climate of fear that threatens their success and our collective stability.

Moreover, as one of the oldest states in the nation facing persistent workforce shortages, Maine cannot afford to be perceived as hostile. Our growth depends on being a place where all persons feel safe. But more than that, we should reject any actions that prevent us from working towards all of our neighbors’ general wellbeing.

LD 2106 provides a common-sense approach to this issue by:

• Ensuring due process: Requiring a valid judicial warrant for enforcement in sensitive community spaces.
• Preserving institutional mission: Ensuring schools remain dedicated to learning and hospitals to healing.
• Investing in our communities: Fostering a sense of belonging that encourages new Mainers to grow and contribute to our state.

Public safety is built on trust, not on fear. I urge you to vote "ought to pass" on LD 2106 to ensure Maine remains a resilient and welcoming home for all.