PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — Portland Mayor Mark Dion says the city did not agree to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to receive a federal transportation grant.
The Portland City Council on Wednesday accepted the $18 million federal transportation grant for the Portland International Jetport. The money is for gate and terminal improvements, and new boarding bridges.
The decision was made in a last-minute meeting on Wednesday night.
The council initially accepted the grant in January. In April, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy sent letters to recipients of U.S. Department of Transportation grants stating that immigration enforcement cooperation would be required of recipients.
Maine along with 19 other states filed a lawsuit in May against the Trump administration asking the courts to block Duffy’s directive. In June, a judge temporarily blocked the directive.
Mayor Dion said during a news conference on Thursday that the city did not agree to any ICE conditions to get the money for the jetport.
The grant agreement will be official on Friday, according to Dion.
