Biddeford City Council unanimously blocks city workers from cooperating with ICE
Biddeford City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to adopt a new ordinance that bars all city employees from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The measure, which will take effect on Nov. 19—exactly 30 days after the council’s approval—restricts city staff from providing ICE with any information about residents’ citizenship or immigration status and prohibits them from engaging in any form of collaboration with federal immigration agencies.
The ordinance was first introduced last month and received full support from all nine councilors at the first reading on Oct. 6. “I think for us to be reviewing this forces us to face an unpleasant truth,” said Councilor Jake Pierson. “Someone was killed in our streets, unjustly.” The council’s decision comes three months after a tragic incident that has galvanized community leaders and the family of the victim: on July 14, 2026, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was shot and killed by an ICE officer at the intersection of Hill and Pool streets. City, state, and federal officials, along with Durán Guerrero’s family, have called for a transparent investigation into the shooting.
City attorney Harry Center explained that Biddeford police already do not cooperate with ICE, but the ordinance would formalize and expand that policy. “Biddeford police already don’t cooperate with ICE, but an ordinance strictly prohibiting all city employees from interacting with federal immigration agencies would strengthen the city’s approach,” he said.
The city’s new law follows a trend of localities tightening their stance on immigration enforcement. Portland and Lewiston have passed similar bylaws, and a state law that took effect in July limits Maine police coordination with federal immigration agencies. Councilor Pierson noted that while the city’s chief of police, Jo‑Ann Fisk, “is at the top of her game,” the ordinance is meant to ensure that future generations are not caught up in the same “horrific event.” “Ordinances are not for today’s people,” he said. “But 10 years from now, there may be no one on this council who lived here today.”
The new regulation reflects a broader debate over the extent to which local governments should participate in federal immigration enforcement. Supporters argue it protects residents from profiling and preserves local law‑enforcement resources for community safety. Critics say the ordinance could hinder cooperation with federal agencies that can assist in serious criminal investigations.
The Biddeford ordinance will take effect on Nov. 19, providing the city with a 30‑day window to prepare for the changes. City officials will likely begin updating internal procedures and training to ensure compliance with the new restrictions.
