Maine LD1971: An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities

What the bill says

An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities.

From the engrossed text:

An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 337-E is enacted to read: CHAPTER 337-E IMMIGRATION §4761. Definitions As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 1. Department of Homeland Security. "Department of Homeland Security" means the United States Department of Homeland Security, or its successor agency, and any of its component agencies, including the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Customs and Border Protection. 2. Hold request. "Hold request" means a request issued by an immigration authority to a local law enforcement agency, including an immigration detainer, that the law enforcement agency maintain custody of a person in the law enforcement agency's custody beyond the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release in order to facilitate transfer to the immigration authority. 3. Immigration authority. "Immigration authority" means a federal, state or local officer, employee or other person performing immigration enforcement functions, including the Department of Homeland Security. 4. Immigration detainer. "Immigration detainer" means a written request, including a civil or administrative warrant, issued on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security to a federal, state or local law enforcement agency to provide notice of …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Deqa Dhalac (D, 120) · primary sponsor
• Mana Abdi (D, 95)
• DeBrito, Flavia (D)
• Tavis Hasenfus (D, 57)
• Adam Lee (D, 89)
• Rafael Macias (D, 51)
• Ambureen Rana (D, 21)
• Eleanor Sato (D, 109)
• Ross, Rachel Talbot (D, 28)
• Yusuf Yusuf (D, 118)

Latest actions

1. July 8, 2025: HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.
2. June 18, 2025: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 634 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
3. June 18, 2025: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 574(Yeas 74 - Nays 73 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4. June 17, 2025: Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 605 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 606 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
5. June 17, 2025: Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.Representative DRINKWATER of Milford moved the PREVIOUS QUESTION.The Chair ordered a division.A vote of the House was taken. 53 voted in favor of the same and 80 against, and accordingly the motion to move the PREVIOUS QUESTION FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 541(Yeas 74 - Nays 73 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-751) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspens
6. May 13, 2025: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence
7. May 13, 2025: Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

Votes

• Senate RC #634: ENACTMENT (June 18, 2025): 20 yea, 14 nay, passed
• House RC #574: Enactment (June 18, 2025): 75 yea, 73 nay, passed
• Senate RC #606: PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED (June 17, 2025): 21 yea, 14 nay, passed
• Senate RC #605: ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT (June 17, 2025): 21 yea, 14 nay, passed
• House RC #541: ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP (June 17, 2025): 74 yea, 73 nay, passed

Common questions

What is LD1971?

LD1971 is a bill in the Maine Legislature (132nd Legislature): An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities.

What does LD1971 do?

In its own words: An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities.

What is the status of LD1971?

Signed into law as of January 11, 2026. Latest action: HELD BY THE GOVERNOR. (July 8, 2025).

Who sponsored LD1971?

Deqa Dhalac (D, 120), with 9 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for LD1971?

On the Maine Legislature website: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1971&snum=132