Portland Mayor Mark Dion will be speaking at a press conference on Friday about an anticipated surge of immigration agents in the city.
Mayor Dion said Thursday he confirmed with a source in the federal system that ICE agents will be sent to the city within the next two weeks.
Dion told our info partners at CBS 13 news that having local police step in if necessary isn’t out of the question.
On the WGAN Morning News this week, Dion also said Portland Police will not collaborate or cooperate with ICE moving forward.
The press conference with Dion and Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris is set to get underway Friday morning.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not officially confirmed plans to send immigration agents to Maine.
City leaders in Lewiston are also reminding residents of their rights if immigration enforcement is stepped up.
The Trump administration has said ICE agents will not back down and will continue to fulfill their duties despite pushback.
It comes as a new law that limits the ability of Maine law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents has yet to take effect.
A state law passed last year allows police in Maine to work with ICE on issues like human and drug trafficking, but not directly on immigration enforcement.
Because Gov. Janet Mills allowed the bill to become law without her signature, it won’t take effect until 90 days after the current legislature adjourns, which will be in the summer.
Gov. Mills called the new law “uniquely necessary” while the Trump administration is in power.
