An Act To Facilitate Compliance With Federal Immigration Law By State And Local Government Entities

LD 1656 prohibits state and local government entities (including law enforcement agencies, counties, and municipalities) from adopting policies that block cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill specifically bans rules or practices that prevent officials from asking about immigration status, sharing immigration status information with federal agencies, or maintaining records related to immigration status. It defines key terms like "immigration detainer" (a federal request to hold someone) and clarifies that local entities must comply with federal immigration law requests. This bill directly affects all Maine state and local government agencies and law enforcement officials who interact with federal immigration authorities.