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MaineLD 1971132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities

Sponsored By: Deqa Dhalac (Democratic)

Became Law

LEGAL SERVICESLEGAL SERVICES - IMMIGRATION

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Jail rules for immigration interviews and holds

Before a civil immigration interview in jail, staff must give you a written consent form. The form must be in your main language and read by someone who is not an immigration officer. It must say the interview is voluntary and that you may choose to have a lawyer present. This does not create a new right to a lawyer. If the jail gets an immigration hold request, it must give you a copy and tell you it cannot hold you only for that request. The agency must try to keep the hold request and related records for four years.

Maine police limits on immigration enforcement

Maine state and local police cannot use money or staff to enforce immigration law. They may not ask about your immigration status or hold or arrest you only because of a federal hold request. They may not share nonpublic release dates or your home or work address for immigration purposes. They cannot act as federal immigration officers, be placed under federal immigration supervision, or use immigration staff as interpreters for custody matters. They cannot transfer you to immigration authorities without a court order or a criminal warrant. Agencies that release people in good faith under this law are immune from liability, except for willful or wanton misconduct.

Immigration status info police can share

Police may send, get, and keep a person's immigration status information when federal law allows it. This includes exchanges allowed by 8 U.S.C. 1373 or 1644. Any sharing must follow those federal rules.

When Maine police may aid immigration

The law lists narrow times when Maine police may help immigration cases. They may investigate or arrest for a federal crime found during other police work, like illegal reentry. Transfer to immigration still needs a court order or a criminal warrant. Police can share a person's criminal history when state law allows. They may join task forces whose main job is not immigration and that target crimes like terrorism, drugs, or human trafficking. Agencies may complete T or U visa certifications, make checks tied to federal gun laws, and allow interviews with a valid court order.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Deqa Dhalac

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Adam Lee

    Democratic • House

  • Ambureen Rana

    Democratic • House

  • Eleanor Sato

    Democratic • House

  • Flavia DeBrito

    Democratic • House

  • Mana Abdi

    Democratic • House

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rafael Macias

    Democratic • House

  • Tavis Hasenfus

    Democratic • House

  • Yusuf Yusuf

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 211 • No: 188

Senate vote • 6/18/2025

ENACTMENT

Yes: 20 • No: 14

House vote • 6/18/2025

Enactment

Yes: 75 • No: 73

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 21 • No: 14

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED

Yes: 21 • No: 14

House vote • 6/17/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 74 • No: 73

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 517

    5/1/2026

  2. HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.

    7/8/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 634 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0

    6/18/2025Senate

  4. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 574(Yeas 74 - Nays 73 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/18/2025House

  5. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 605 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 606 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0

    6/17/2025Senate

  6. Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.Representative DRINKWATER of Milford moved the PREVIOUS QUESTION.The Chair ordered a division.A vote of the House was taken. 53 voted in favor of the same and 80 against, and accordingly the motion to move the PREVIOUS QUESTION FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 541(Yeas 74 - Nays 73 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-751). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/17/2025House

  7. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence

    5/13/2025Senate

  8. Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/13/2025House

Bill Text

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