We, the residents of Portland and allies across Maine, are calling on Mayor Mark Dion and the Portland City Council to immediately reject any agreement—past or future—that mandates cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The city’s recent decision to accept a $21 million federal grant for airport upgrades—despite language tying the funds to ICE collaboration—has deeply undermined public trust. This decision was reached largely out of public view, through an emergency workshop held behind closed doors. While city officials insist that Portland is not required to cooperate with ICE under the grant due to an existing court injunction, that assurance offers cold comfort when future legal rulings could reverse those protections at any moment.

Portland has long prided itself as a welcoming city for immigrants and refugees. Quietly signing onto a grant that includes ICE cooperation language—no matter how seemingly conditional—runs counter to the values of our community. Local cooperation with ICE erodes public safety, sows fear among our immigrant neighbors, and fosters mistrust between residents and their local government.

It is not just the grant itself that has caused concern. The manner in which this decision was made—without full transparency, community engagement, or a formal public vote—has left many feeling unheard and excluded from decisions that affect our collective moral compass.

We demand the following:

• A public commitment that Portland will not, under any circumstance, cooperate with ICE as a result of this grant agreement or any future federal funding.
• An ordinance requiring full public disclosure and hearings before any future agreements with federal agencies—especially those involving immigration enforcement—are signed.
• A reaffirmation of Portland’s status as a safe and welcoming city, with policies to protect residents from federal immigration overreach.

We stand in solidarity with the protesters who gathered outside City Hall to demand accountability. Our city must be bold and transparent in its commitment to justice. Join us in urging Portland’s elected leaders to reject secret deals and uphold the values of dignity, equity, and safety for all.
 
 
Photo: Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald