Maine communities don’t exist without immigrants. The immigrants being detained each day are the nurses who care for our sick and the mothers nurturing our future. They are the carpenters, electricians and engineers building our towns. 

Political and business leaders of Maine should step up and publicly recognize that there is no “Way Life Should Be” without the immigrants currently being targeted each day. There are politicians from both parties and advocacy organizations that talk a big game about what’s needed for Maine’s economy. Don’t forget their silence or encouragement as federal agents attempt to abduct 1,400 people from the demographically oldest state in the country.

The real leaders of our community right now are not in politics or business; they are people of color showing up in life while being even more racially profiled than normal. Leaders are the women juggling work and parenting while also creating new mutual aid organizations. They are the everyday Mainers delivering food and diapers to families who can’t safely leave their homes. 

Criticizing ICE and talking about the lack of transparency from the federal government are important — but not enough. Defunding ICE will not recognize that the immigrants being targeted belong in our communities. What immigrants in our state deserve is an asylum and immigration process from our federal government that recognizes their humanity, vets and understands their stories, honors their essential contributions to our society and provides them a path to keep contributing to our collective flourishing without living in fear.

Luke Curran
Portland