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Hundreds press Cumberland County commissioners to end cooperation with ICE; commissioners schedule follow-up meeting
Summary
Large public turnout urged commissioners to terminate Cumberland County's contracts and cooperation with ICE after reports of recent detentions. Speakers described fear in immigrant communities; Sheriff Joyce defended existing practices and cited statutory obligations. Commissioners agreed to further study and meet with advocates on July 9.
Hundreds of residents and supporters told Cumberland County commissioners on June 16 that the county should end all cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying recent detentions have terrified immigrant communities and eroded trust in public safety.
Speakers at a lengthy public-comment period included community organizers, teachers, nonprofit leaders and people who said they had themselves been detained. Todd Kriesch, who identified his address in Portland, urged the commission to ‘‘sever the relationship between ICE and the Cumberland County Jail’’ and said representatives of a coalition would meet with commissioners and the sheriff on July 9 to ‘‘concretize and move forward’’ on demands.
Many speakers tied personal and community harm to local holding of federal detainees. Peach Cushing said the group had a petition with signatures (her remarks included the number ‘‘800’’ while passing a petition to officials) and told the commissioners, ‘‘You have something you can do to stop it. End our cooperation.’’ Other speakers described children and students afraid to go to school, workplaces and food programs because of ICE activity.
Sheriff Joyce responded at length, saying county law enforcement does not conduct immigration enforcement and noting longstanding practice of taking federal detainees under federal authority. He told commissioners, ‘‘Today, we have 60 ICE inmates and another 33 federal inmates for other charges’’ and urged caution before cutting off federal agency use of the jail, pointing commissioners to a statute he cited as ‘‘30 4 54.’’ Joyce said the sheriff’s office does not screen detainees for immigration status, that he is ‘‘elected to make sure that public safety in the Cumberland County was held,’’ and that county facilities have housed federal detainees under contracts for decades.
Speakers highlighted legal, moral and fiscal concerns. Legal advocates said a pattern of detentions without probable cause has produced lawsuits; Shelby Layton, a speaker who noted ongoing litigation involving the sheriff’s office, said holding large numbers of ICE detainees ‘‘spreads already understaffed officers thin’’ and increases liability and operational risk. Medical and education workers said students are experiencing nightmares and families are skipping meals out of fear.
Commissioners responded acknowledging the breadth of community concern. Commissioner James said he would study whether changes to housing or transfer practices could keep detainees closer to local courts and judges, noting habeas corpus and local judicial oversight as possible mitigants. Commissioners scheduled a follow-up meeting for July 9 with coalition representatives and sheriff’s office staff to explore options; no formal vote or motion to sever contracts occurred at the meeting.
Ending: The county did not adopt any formal policy change during the session. Commissioners said they will hold a July 9 meeting with advocacy groups and county staff to review legal obligations, public-safety implications and potential administrative options; speakers said they intend to continue attending meetings until the county ends cooperation with ICE.
