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Cumberland County public comments press commissioners to end jail—s ICE contract as board reopens debate
Summary
Dozens of residents, faith leaders and educators urged the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners to end the county jail—s contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing family separations and rising detainee numbers; commissioners debated legal and fiscal constraints and a motion to revoke the contract is recorded in the meeting but the transcript does not include a final vote tally.
Dozens of residents, educators and faith leaders addressed the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners during a lengthy public-comment period, urging the board to end the Cumberland County Jail—s contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"There are 61 people right now who are being detained at the Cumberland County Jail for ICE," said Shelby Layton, a South Portland resident, citing data she attributed to the sheriff—s office and urging the board not to delay a vote to end the contract. Several speakers repeated large-percentage increases in ICE detainees and described family separations and transfers out of state.
Reverend Allison Smith of Harpswell framed the issue as a moral imperative: "If you do nothing, the jail is on pace to hold a 1300% increase from previous years," she said, and urged the…
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