Residents urge Bangor Council to bar local cooperation with ICE; staff says city has not signed 287(g) agreements

Several residents urged the Bangor City Council on April 14 to adopt a local ordinance prohibiting the city and local law enforcement from entering into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would deputize or otherwise draw municipal resources into immigration enforcement.

"Maine resources should be used for Maine communities," said State Representative Laura Cipica, identifying herself as House Chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and a resident of Bangor’s Lower Ohio Street neighborhood. "I am here to ask you all to consider an ordinance that would prohibit Bangor staff and law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement with ICE and entering into contracts to assist them."

Bridal Davidson, who identified herself as a Bangor resident, told the council such agreements would be a fiscal burden and harm public safety by undermining trust between immigrant communities and local services. "When police departments enter into contracts with ICE ... municipal budgets are the ones that take the hit," she said, arguing overtime, training, administrative costs and potential liabilities would fall to the city.

Joshua Flade, a Bangor resident and data analyst, urged council support for LD 1259 — a bill in the state legislature referenced by speakers — and urged the council not to wait for the legislature to act. "If we allow our local police to be drawn into these actions, we risk complicity in violating the civil rights of members of our community," he said.

Councilors did not take action on an ordinance at the meeting. Later in the meeting, a city staff member addressed the council and the public to clarify the city's position. The staff member said the Department of Homeland Security had sent letters to many agencies inviting interest in 287(g) agreements and that Bangor had received such a request "about three months ago" but has not signed one. "We did not sign it," the staff member said, adding that the city has a working relationship with federal agencies on matters such as internet crimes but is not pursuing deputization for immigration enforcement.

Speakers repeatedly framed the request as both a matter of public safety and fiscal responsibility, arguing that local police should focus on community policing priorities rather than federal immigration enforcement.

The council did not place any ordinance on the agenda for final action that night; public comments on the topic were submitted during the general public comment period.

Councilors and staff said the city will continue to monitor state legislative developments and noted at least one member of the Legislature had introduced a related bill, LD 1259, that would affect statewide policy.

No formal vote or referral to committee on a Bangor ordinance about immigration enforcement was recorded at the April 14 meeting.