A new law in Maine, effective Wednesday, July 29, 2026, limits cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The "ICE Out of Policing" law prohibits agencies, including jails, from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement.

Under the law, law enforcement cannot request translation services from ICE or Border Patrol agents for individuals who do not speak English. They are generally barred from providing personal information for civil immigration enforcement, with exceptions for criminal investigations and legally permitted information exchanges.

The law also restricts local and state agencies from holding individuals solely based on civil immigration enforcement. Jails are generally prohibited from notifying ICE about nonpublic inmate release dates or honoring civil detainer requests, except in cases involving serious crimes, outstanding warrants, final removal orders, or public safety concerns.

The Maine State Police announced in December 2025 that it would begin following these policing restrictions ahead of the law's effective date.

On July 28, 2026, the ACLU of Maine, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, and Maine Equal Justice held a news conference addressing the new laws targeting ICE operations. Sue Roche, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, stated she was aware of more than 50 incidents last year where state and local police contacted immigration officials, leading to arrests. Roche added, "The vast majority of people who have been handed over to ICE or Border Patrol by Maine’s law enforcement were people in lawful immigration processes who had no criminal record."

These measures aim to restrict Maine's cooperation with civil immigration enforcement while maintaining exceptions for criminal and public safety concerns.

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