Maine Families Race Against Time as ICE Transfers Detainees Out of State
Families across Maine are facing a desperate scramble to locate loved ones and halt their transfer out of the state following a sweeping federal immigration crackdown. Immigration attorneys report that more than 200 individuals have been arrested this week, with federal authorities rapidly moving detainees to facilities in other states, making it increasingly difficult for relatives to reach them.
Legal System Overwhelmed by Rapid Transfers
Jenny Beverly, an immigration attorney with Haven Immigration Law, described her team as "buried in phone calls" as they worked long hours to track down detainees and prevent their removal from Maine. When Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents transfer detainees out of state, they become even harder to reach and face greater odds of removal from the US, according to legal experts.
The situation has been exacerbated by a recent federal ruling that stripped many immigrants of their first layer of legal protections. In September, the federal board of immigration appeals reversed years of precedent, ruling that people who crossed the US border unlawfully are no longer eligible for release on bond.
Habeas Petitions: A Race Against the Clock
With traditional bond options eliminated, lawyers are increasingly turning to habeas petitions, which allow detainees to challenge their detention based on constitutional rights. However, these petitions must be filed in the same jurisdiction where a detainee is held, creating a critical vulnerability when transfers occur rapidly.
"ICE came with the machinery in place to get people out of here as soon as possible. We are racing against the clock as soon as we get a phone call to get something filed," Beverly explained. "Frankly, I feel that enforcement was done [at this pace] on purpose so that we can't keep up."
Maine faces particular challenges with only a handful of lawyers trained to file habeas petitions in the state. An influx of requests could easily overwhelm this limited legal infrastructure.
Mass Removal Follows Sheriff's Criticism
The urgency intensified on Thursday when fifty immigrants were removed from the Cumberland County jail, according to Sheriff Kevin Joyce. The two-story Portland facility has served as Maine's central detention hub during the current administration.
This mass transfer followed a public dispute between Joyce and federal immigration authorities after the sheriff criticized ICE tactics as "bush league policing." The timing suggests potential retaliation for this criticism, though ICE has not commented directly on the connection.
Federal Justification and Capacity Issues
When questioned about operations in Maine, Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary of public affairs, repeated a statement provided previously, describing those apprehended as some of "the worst of the worst" who had been "charged and convicted of horrific crimes."
However, Maine's limited detention capacity complicates this narrative. With only two federal detention facilities in the state, there is insufficient space to hold all 1,400 individuals that ICE deputy assistant director Patricia Hyde said the agency intends to target.
Long-Distance Transfers Create Additional Hardships
Data collected by Vera's ICE Detention Trends reveals that more than 45% of Maine's detainees get transferred to Louisiana, despite closer facilities being available in Massachusetts. The Maine Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) reports that at least eight Maine residents have already been transferred to Louisiana.
One detainee described being held with approximately 100 other men, sleeping in tents next to or on an active tarmac. Such conditions raise serious humanitarian concerns about the treatment of those transferred far from their families and legal representatives.
Non-Profit Organizations Provide Critical Support
More than 60 people have requested emergency legal aid from ILAP to prevent their removal since last week. Non-profit groups like ILAP can provide this support free of charge, while private firms likely charge "thousands" according to Beverly, creating financial barriers for many families.
Sue Roche, ILAP's executive director, issued a powerful statement describing the situation: "There are not adequate words to describe how difficult the past week has been. In ILAP's legal triage, we are seeing mostly people in lawful immigration processes with no criminal records being arrested. Many have been racially profiled and abducted from their cars off the street, and some have been targeted at home. ICE is stalking grocery stores and schools. The lack of due process or humanity in this enforcement operation is appalling."
The combination of rapid transfers, limited legal resources, and distant detention facilities creates a perfect storm that threatens both due process rights and family unity for Maine's immigrant community.
