South Portland passes emergency ICE ordinance
South Portland Council Enacts Emergency Ordinance to Stop City Employees from Assisting ICE
South Portland, Maine – The city’s governing body adopted a sweeping emergency ordinance on Tuesday that bars all city employees, including police officers and school staff, from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in any capacity. The measure was passed unanimously and took effect immediately, a move that many officials say is designed to be in place before the upcoming election.
The ordinance follows a long‑standing tradition of anti‑ICE policy in South Portland. In 2017 the city formally declared its opposition to federal immigration enforcement and later, in February, passed a symbolic resolution to clarify its stance after a surge in ICE activity across the state. The new rule tightens the language and makes the commitment more concrete.
Under the ordinance, city staff cannot voluntarily work with ICE, nor can municipal resources—including funds or facilities—be used to facilitate enforcement activities. Employees are prohibited from allowing ICE agents to use city property for staging, processing, or other operational needs. The rule also bars officials from providing ICE agents with access to non‑public areas or sharing addresses, contact information, or immigration status beyond what is legally required. In practice, this means police officers, municipal employees, and school workers may not participate in ICE‑ordered stops, arrests or detentions, nor can they cooperate with federal agents in any other way.
The ordinance was enacted via an emergency procedure that skipped the usual two‑reading and waiting period that normally lengthens the ordinance‑making process by several weeks. Councilors said the expedited process was necessary to ensure the city had the policy in place before the election, which could see a shift in council composition.
South Portland’s decision comes as part of a broader movement among Maine municipalities. Portland, Lewiston, Rockland, Waterville, and Biddeford have all adopted similar ordinances that limit local participation in ICE operations. The South Portland measure mirrors these efforts but adds explicit restrictions on the use of city property and the sharing of personal data.
In addition to city employees, the school board recommended that the ordinance include school staff. The board voted unanimously on Monday, underscoring the city’s commitment to protecting students and educators from federal enforcement actions. While the ordinance does not prevent ICE detentions or other enforcement actions on city grounds, it clarifies that the city will not aid or facilitate those operations.
All city staff will receive training on the new policy, and any suspicious activity will be reported to the city manager’s office. The city manager will then compile aggregate data to be reported to the council annually, ensuring transparency and accountability.
City officials emphasize that the ordinance is not a refusal to enforce state law. “We are still fully committed to public safety and upholding Maine’s laws,” one council member said. “But we are drawing a line between our responsibilities as a city and the federal jurisdiction of ICE.”
The ordinance is now law. The city will monitor its implementation and report back to the council each year, as mandated in the text. The measure is expected to signal to residents and visitors that South Portland remains a community that prioritizes local control over immigration enforcement and protects the privacy and safety of its citizens.
