Mainers have learned this week that ICE is headed toward our state to terrorize its people.
That makes the following information from Aaron Rosenblum of the ACLU of Maine essential:
It was encouraging to see so many of you at ICE Out for Good rallies across the state on Saturday and share our Know Your Rights material on protesting and making your voices heard. With our partners at Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) and the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic at the University of Maine School of Law, we have created a new one-page PDF guide for digital distribution, so people can prepare for and respond to immigration enforcement activity in Maine. The handout is available here:
Preparing for and Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activity in Maine
Feel free to share this information widely. Currently, the page contains information in English, French, Haitian Creole, Lingala, Portuguese, Spanish, and Somali. There are also PDF documents with the same information in the same languages (direct links here: English, French, Haitian Creole, Lingala, Portuguese, Spanish, and Somali).
Our printable, foldable “Know Your Rights when Interacting with ICE” pamphlet (English/Spanish) is also now available as a one-page PDF in French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, and Spanish (all with English on the reverse side). See the dropdown menu with a list of languages on this page or follow these direct links: Arabic, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish.
For those who prefer or require audiovisual resources, please consult our multilingual video series on interacting with immigration agents (language links are provided above each video).
Please remember the following if you encounter ICE or Border Patrol:
- You have the right not to open the door to your home, unless the agent has a signed judicial warrant.
- You have the right to ask an ICE officer, “Am I free to leave?”
- You have the right not to answer immigration officers’ questions and to tell an immigration officer, “I choose not to say anything.”
- Even if you exercise your rights, ICE may still detain you.
- If ICE tries to detain you, do your best to stay calm. Do not run away and do not resist.
Thank you,
Aaron
P.S. We also have Know Your Rights materials on our website that cover a variety of topics and are available in several languages, including:
- If you encounter ICE at your home, place of work, or out in public
- If law enforcement asks to search your phone or other device
- If you are in public protesting
- Guidance for schools, health care centers, and places of worship
- Immigrant students’ rights and school responsibilities
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For more local resources, please see Amy MacDonald’s Substack post, ICE in Maine: 5 Things You Can Do Today
For information about what’s happening and specific actions you can take with your local elected officials, see Indivisible’s Militarization of American Cities Explainer.
