Residents urge Cumberland County commissioners to end ICE contract during public comment

Multiple residents used the county’s public‑comment period on March 16 to call for the Cumberland County commissioners to end the county’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Shelby Layton, who identified herself in the meeting as a resident of South Portland, told the board: “I’m here to ask you to end the contract with ICE as usual,” and asked whether the commission is providing oversight of sheriff’s office cooperation with Portland and South Portland police and ICE. Layton also asked whether the sheriff had committed to following LD 1971 ahead of its effective date.

Jack O’Brien of Brunswick urged the commissioners to cancel the contract immediately, noting that at the time of his remarks there were no detainees in the jail and that canceling “today” would send a strong message.

Reverend Allison Smith of Harpswell framed the issue as a moral question. “You have been making money on these people's lives,” she said, urging the commission to act and accusing the county of prioritizing money over people. Several other speakers recounted direct impacts on families, including separation and fear of enforcement activity.

Commissioners did not take a vote on the contract at the meeting. The chair closed public comment on the agenda item after the speakers' allotted time and proceeded to the consent agenda and then other business. The transcript shows repeated public pressure for oversight and for the sheriff to state whether his office will adopt LD 1971 prior to its effective date.

The public comment segment included questions from residents about whether the board will ask the sheriff for clarifications and whether the county manager will investigate cooperation between local police departments and ICE. Commissioners acknowledged the comments and did not announce additional action on the ICE contract during the meeting.