The Maine Democratic Party is monitoring ICE activity across the state and supporting our communities. The Party has produced this guidance and a comprehensive list of resources to help everyone know their rights and what to do if confronted by ICE.
What rights do immigrants have?
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.
These include:
- The right not to open the door to your home to ICE, unless the agent has a signed judicial warrant.
- The right to ask an ICE officer, “Am I free to leave?”
- The right not to answer an immigration officer’s questions and to tell an immigration officer, “I choose not to say anything.”
Even if someone exercises their rights, ICE may ignore them and still detain them. If ICE tries to detain someone, they should do their best to stay calm and not run away or resist arrest.
Learn more: Preparing for and Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activity in Maine
What should I do if I see immigration enforcement officers?
- Know your rights regarding filming an ICE arrest or encounter: Filming Immigration Enforcement in the U.S.
- Report what you’ve seen to Maine’s ICE Watch Hotline at 207-544-9989. Add this number to your Contacts so it is handy when you need it.
- When reporting ICE activity, follow the SALUTE acronym:
- S: Size (How many agents?)
- A: Actions (What are they doing?)
- L: Location and direction
- U: Uniform or clothing
- T: Time and date
- E: Equipment, including vehicles and license plates
- If you believe an immigration officer has violated someone’s rights, complete the ACLU of Maine Request for Legal Assistance form.
How do I make sure my business, school, or place of worship is prepared for ICE enforcement?
Know your rights when working or volunteering in health care centers, homeless shelters, places of worship, and schools.
Know Your Rights: Guidance for Health Care, Shelters, Clergy, Education
What should I do if someone in my community or a loved one is detained?
- Learn immediate steps to take: Know Your Rights: What to Do if You or a Loved One is Detained.
- If you need to find someone who has been detained, use the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Online Detainee Locator System.
- If your loved one is detained at Cumberland County Jail (ME), Two Bridges Regional Jail (ME), or Strafford County Correctional Facility (NH), complete this form:
- If your loved one is detained at Plymouth County Correctional Facility (MA) or Wyatt Detention Facility (RI)? Complete their Detention Intake Request form.
- Learn about legal and financial assistance available to support anyone who is detained (bail, bond, commissary, etc.) at the Maine Immigrant Resource Hub.
How can I spread the word so everyone knows their rights when dealing with ICE?
Print, distribute and display Know Your Rights Information:
- Maine Home For All posters and graphics
- Know Your Rights Solidarity Signs
- Maine ICE Watch Hotline Multilingual Flyers and Posters: Small Flyers, Large Poster, Small Poster
- If ICE Stops You In Public Flyer
- If ICE Comes to Your Home Flyer
- Distribute Know Your Rights: Red Cards to help people exercise their rights and protect themselves when interacting with immigration enforcement. Learn about printing or ordering Red Cards.