During a press conference today, Portland Mayor Mark Dion stated that the city’s acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation this week did not amount to a surrender to federal immigration officials.
The $18 million will be used to upgrade the International Jetport’s infrastructure, which will include new restrooms, snow removal equipment, and the replacement of old planes.
But according to Dion, the Department of Transportation stated that ICE collaboration is mandatory in the grant announcement that was distributed this week.
“We did not consent, capitulate or embrace any condition for this money that would allow ice to be entangled with city affairs,” Dion told the media in the meeting.
After a judge issued a preliminary injunction in May, Maine joined 19 other states in a lawsuit that effectively stopped Duffy’s mandate.
After noticing that the text was still present on the grant award, Dion added, municipal councilors summoned a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss “the consequences.”
“This type of executive session happens very frequently and oftentimes it’s very routine and mechanical,” added Dion.
He said that a preliminary injunction granted by a federal judge in June exempts Portland from the immigration enforcement duties.
“Furthermore, the Court declared that any entity of state, local government or state government accepting those funds would not be consenting, expressly or implicitly their willingness to carry out the standards expressed by the Department of Homeland Security,” said Dion.
A few demonstrators showed up at city hall Thursday morning to oppose the Portland city councilors’ decision to proceed with taking the funding.
Kate Sykes, who is the city council representative for the North Deering neighborhood, was present. According to her, accepting the donation goes against Portland’s principles as a sanctuary city.
“I don’t think that we should be complicit in this behavior, this really reprehensible behavior on the part of the federal government to strong arm cities into, you know, conscript us into their federal agenda,” she stated.
During his news conference, Dion stated that if the federal government attempts to reclaim that revenue, the city is ready to file a lawsuit.
“It’s unfortunate we find ourselves in an environment where the relationship between the federal government and local and state governments will have to be played out in courts,” he stated. “But that’s the promise of our Constitution.”
Joey Brunelle was there at both the mayor’s news conference and the demonstration on Thursday morning. He claimed that because of the entire experience, he now wants the city government to be more open regarding federal payments going ahead.
“We’re going to have to have a big public discussion about what protections exist and how we’re going to fight this,” Brunelle stated. “Because this is only the beginning.”
Portland’s thriving immigrant community, according to Craig Bramley, demands greater assistance.
“I know it’s a complex matter, but I don’t think we should be meeting these expectations in advance. It isn’t in line with our city’s principles,” he stated.
According to Bramley, he hopes Portland would join other local authorities across who have vowed to defend immigrants from ICE.
Lincoln County declined to submit an application for a federal emergency management grant earlier this month after identical immigration conditions were added by the Trump administration.
On Monday, the City Council will have another special meeting at 4 p.m.
