LEWISTON- The City Council will consider an emergency temporary ordinance limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
A vote on the measure will take place during the Council’s February 17th evening meeting.
If passed, the proposed ordinance will limit all city staff from sharing any information with federal immigration authorities for sixty days, beginning immediately. All judicial warrants will continue to be complied with, and all state and applicable federal laws will continue to be observed.
Since a vote on first and final readings will take place at the same time (allowed as an emergency measure), the ordinance will require five affirmative votes in order to pass.
The Maine legislature enacted a similar measure as state law on January 11th of this year, but it won’t take effect until ninety days after the current legislative session adjourns.
According to the agenda packet for the meeting, “The emergency ordinance is based upon the state law language and will fill the gap in the next 60 days in implementation of the new state law.”
The proposed ordinance largely spells out that city employees cannot share information related to an individual’s immigration status, and that employees cannot ask an individual regarding their status.
“No city employee or municipal department shall request information from a person about their citizenship or immigration status, unless such inquiry or investigation is required by judicial order, ordinance, or state or federal law,” the proposed ordinance states.
The measure was proposed by Council President David Chittim and has been reviewed by the City Attorney.
Read the proposed ordinance in the Council Meeting Packet (Item #7) here.