Immigration Enforcement Ordinance
Proposed limits on city involvement in federal immigration enforcement sparked debate over airport operations and legal sufficiency.
Proposed limits on city involvement in federal immigration enforcement sparked debate over airport operations and legal sufficiency. The ordinance was postponed twice for further review.
The Immigration Enforcement Ordinance, designated as Ordinance 26-095 and titled Employee Authority in Immigration Matters, first appeared on the City Council agenda on April 28, 2026. It proposed limits on city involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement.
Councilor Beck introduced an amended version that added an exemption for Bangor International Airport to avoid conflicts with federal aviation regulations. Opponents of immediate action cited incomplete due diligence from department heads and risks of losing federal funding.
A motion to substitute the amended text failed by a 4-5 vote. The original ordinance was then postponed to the May 11 meeting.
At the May 28 meeting the council revisited postponement after a motion to postpone indefinitely failed on a 4-4 tie. A follow-up motion to postpone the ordinance until June 22 passed unanimously, explicitly to permit additional legal review.
The measure remains unresolved, with debate centered on airport operations and legal sufficiency.
Further consideration on June 22 after additional legal review.
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