Bangor city councilors voted Monday to preemptively comply with a state law restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The state law, which bans law enforcement agencies from detaining or searching anyone for immigration enforcement purposes and providing certain types of information or assistance to federal immigration agencies, is expected to take effect in July after Gov. Janet Mills allowed it to become law without her signature.
Bangor’s council order instructs City Manager Carollynn Lear to have staff comply with the law immediately and establish a formal procedure around “the proper course of action when law enforcement requests that the City provide confidential information or access to non-public spaces on city property.”
The decision Monday caps a weekslong debate on the council over how to respond to a January immigration enforcement surge in Maine dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day” by federal agencies that arrested 206 immigrants living here, many without criminal records.
Councilors voted 6-3 to approve the order, with councilors Michael Beck, Daniel Carson, Susan Deane, Susan Faloon Joe Leonard and Angela Walker voting yes and councilors Carolyn Fish, Wayne Mallar and Susan Hawes voting no.
Beck initially proposed a separate ordinance last month banning the use of city funds, facilities, equipment, data or staff for immigration enforcement against people “whose sole alleged violation of law is a civil immigration violation” but councilors decided to postpone a vote on that ordinance and instead vote on an order to preemptively comply with the state law.
That decision came after a legal review of Beck’s proposal by City Solicitor David Szewczyk, who recommended that it not be passed in its current form.
Beck said he wanted his proposal postponed until March 23 to make sure the order regarding the state law passed first.
Lear confirmed during Monday’s meeting that the city is prepared to comply with the state law immediately because the police department does not currently interact with federal immigration authorities.
Several community members spoke against the proposal at the meeting, and Mallar and Fish argued that they didn’t think the city should get involved in immigration matters.
“With the budget coming up and money being tight, we spend an awful lot of time on illegal immigrants,” Mallar said.
Beck argued the measure was “the least we can do” because there are Bangor residents who are scared to leave their homes due to fears of federal immigration enforcement.
Portland passed a resolution condemning ICE conduct in the city in September, and Rockland approved an ordinance in December limiting local cooperation with immigration officials.
