Maine governor says state law enforcement will not cooperate with ICE outside of criminal probes

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills announced Monday in an op-ed that she will allow a state bill to become law, which will not allow local law enforcement to work with ICE on immigration enforcement unless it’s related to a criminal investigation.

The governor said she would allow LD 1971 to become state law without her signature, declining to veto the legislation, and also repealed a 2011 executive order that enhanced cooperation between state and federal officials on immigration enforcement.

Under the state constitution, Mills can no longer sign the legislation but can allow it to become law without her signature or veto it within three days of the state legislature reconvening, the governor's office said in a news release.

"As a former District Attorney and Attorney General and now as Governor, I carefully considered this bill," she wrote in the Portland Press Herald. "I've weighed my concerns that it imposes confusing restraints on law enforcement about when they can and can't interact with Federal authorities against the extraordinary and horrifying actions of a Federal agency that has been weaponized by the President to undermine the rights of us all.

"I also agree with the bill's aim of ensuring that Maine law enforcement are enforcing Maine laws, not Federal immigration law," she continued. "LD-1971 is imperfect, and we should not need it, but the times call for it. We cannot turn a blind eye to ICE's unacceptable actions, and so I have chosen to allow LD 1971 to become law."

The governor's comments come as the Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration, including rounding up and deporting illegal migrants who have allegedly committed heinous crimes. 

Mills said she has other legislation on her desk that she is still considering, and will announce her decisions on the bills by Jan. 7.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.