Scarborough residents continue fight to push ICE out of its only facility in Maine
Scarborough Town Council Takes Stand on ICE Facility, Calls for Transparency and Reform
Scarborough, Maine – At a town‑hall meeting held on July 19, the Scarborough Town Council unanimously adopted a proclamation calling for greater transparency and accountability from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and urging an evaluation of alternative uses for the facility at 40 Manson Libby Road. The decision follows a series of local incidents and growing public pressure that has turned a national federal issue into a town‑level debate.
The ICE center, the only federal immigration processing facility in Maine, opened in 2021 on the town’s waterfront. In the months since, the building has been at the center of controversy: a routine check‑in in August led to the detention of a local resident; a 26‑year‑old man was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Biddeford in July; and a surge of federal immigration enforcement in January left many residents uneasy. “Silence in the face of what ICE is doing in this town implies consent,” said resident John Raby during the meeting.
Councilor Bill Donovan, a practicing lawyer, echoed the community’s frustration. “I join the widespread public frustration and outrage over ICE’s criminal behavior—and I say that as a lawyer,” he said. “Our authority is limited, but we’re mad. It’s wrong, and it’s happening in our town.”
A Petition Builds Momentum
The town’s activism gained a wider platform when the Scarborough Democratic Town Committee filed a petition with Maine’s congressional delegation on September 15. Roughly 700 local residents and an additional 100 neighbors signed the petition, demanding a congressional meeting to review and potentially remove the ICE facility. The petition cites concerns raised by the Biddeford shooting and calls for a suspension of operations until a thorough investigation is conducted, an assessment of the facility’s necessity, civil‑rights oversight, and a halt to any expansion into Newport or other Maine communities.
Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st district responded to the request with a letter in July, urging the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider the building’s continued operation. The next day, the committee met with staff from Sen. Susan Collins’ and Sen. Angus King’s offices, as well as Pingree’s representatives, to push for a suspension of the facility’s activities and a review of its legality. “The delegation must act,” the meeting’s release said, noting the committee’s calls for congressional action, a civil‑rights investigation, and regular operational updates.
Collins’ staff confirmed they would relay the committee’s requests to Washington, while King’s team pledged to respond to the town council’s proclamation. Pingree’s office promised a follow‑up update in two weeks, ongoing efforts to insert testimony from the Biddeford shadow hearing into the official congressional record, and connections to funding resources for legal representation.
Town‑Level Limits on Cooperation
In addition to the proclamation, the council tabled a new ordinance that would broaden existing restrictions on cooperating with federal immigration enforcement to all town employees. The ordinance, modeled after a similar measure passed in Rockland last year, prohibits the use of town resources or staff—except when required by law or a judicial order—to assist ICE. The proposed ordinance will go for a second reading and a vote on October 21.
Maine has recently enacted a state law effective July that bars police officers and sheriff’s deputies from coordinating with federal immigration agencies. Other municipalities, including Portland and Lewiston, have already passed ordinances mirroring the town’s proposal.
Councilors were divided on the likelihood of receiving a response from DHS. Nonetheless, they voted unanimously to authorize the council chair to send a letter to the department requesting a tour of the ICE facility. “If the town can’t get answers, we’ll at least let them know we’re watching,” said one councilor, reflecting a pragmatic stance.
The Bigger Picture
The ICE center at 40 Manson Libby Road is leased from the federal government by the U.S. General Services Administration. Its presence has forced Scarborough to confront the broader national debate over federal immigration policy and local autonomy. The town’s actions—proclamation, ordinance proposal, petition, and outreach to Congress—illustrate a growing trend among Maine communities to assert their right to determine how federal agencies operate on local soil.
While the town’s authority to shut down the federal facility is limited, its measures send a clear message: residents will not accept what they see as improper conduct by ICE agents. Whether that will lead to a halt in operations, a change in federal oversight, or a broader policy shift remains to be seen. What is clear is that the town of Scarborough is taking every available tool into its own hands, from local ordinances to congressional petitions, to protect its citizens and hold a powerful federal agency accountable.
