Maine Churches Confront Fear of Immigration Raids After Policy Change

(MAINE) Maine churches are bracing for a new phase of immigration enforcement after the Department of Homeland Security, under President Trump, rescinded the “Sensitive Locations” policy on January 20, 2025, ending long‑standing limits on operations in churches, schools, and hospitals. Faith leaders say the move has chilled daily life for immigrant families.

The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) reports a sharp rise in fear, with people asking whether it is safe to attend services, send children to school, or visit a clinic. As of August 24, 2025, congregations across the state are rewriting protocols and training staff to prepare for possible encounters with federal agents.

What the Policy Change Means

For years, Sensitive Locations guidance generally kept enforcement away from places considered central to community life. Those protections were expanded under President Biden in 2021 and then canceled on January 20, 2025, effectively reopening these sites to routine operations.

• The rescission marks a decisive break from the past decade.
• Churches, schools, and hospitals that many families once treated as safe havens can now be subject to enforcement actions.
• Maine pastors say this change undermines a basic promise: that houses of worship would remain places of welcome.

“This runs against American values and the church’s commitment to support neighbors regardless of status,” said Rev. Norman Allen of First Parish in Portland.

Immediate Impacts on Communities

ILAP and local advocates say the fear is not theoretical — it has immediate consequences for daily life.

• Families are calling ILAP and congregations more often with safety concerns.
• People report hesitancy to appear in public, even for Mass, Sunday school, or routine medical care.
• Mixed‑status households face particular anxiety: U.S. citizen children may have a parent without lawful status.
• Consequences include skipped appointments, reduced attendance at services, and added stress in communities with limited access to lawyers and transportation.

Maine is home to about 5,000 undocumented immigrants, who contribute more than $15 million each year in state and local taxes. Advocates say the rescission reshapes everyday decisions — from school drop‑offs to whether to seek a flu shot.

Federal Response and Local Pushback

Trump administration officials argue the rescission is needed to stop “public safety threats” from exploiting protected spaces. Border Czar Tom Homan said agents will focus on people who pose risks, while acknowledging that others may be detained if encountered during operations.

Faith leaders counter:

• There is no evidence churches are harboring criminals.
• Wider operations could sweep up people for minor violations, such as unpaid traffic tickets, or workers with no criminal record.

For authoritative government information on ICE enforcement and removal, readers can consult ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations page at https://www.ice.gov/ero. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the rollback has prompted faith groups nationwide to reassess safety plans and seek clearer legal guidance.

How Maine Churches Are Responding

Across Maine, congregations are moving quickly to prepare for a world without Sensitive Locations protections. ILAP is coordinating trainings and policy alerts, while denominations share updates through parish networks.

Key practical steps churches are taking:

1. Consult with immigration attorneys to set clear policies for church campuses and events.
2. Train greeters, volunteers, and clergy on how to respond if enforcement agents appear during services or programs.
3. Post signs at entrances stating that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant to enter nonpublic areas.
4. Direct agents to a designated point person and request identification and a judge‑signed warrant before granting access to nonpublic spaces.
5. Document any attempted or actual visits and immediately refer questions to legal counsel.

Bullet points on space and interaction rules:

• Public spaces: a Sunday sanctuary or fellowship hall may be open to the public.
• Nonpublic spaces: staff offices and closed classrooms are not public access areas.
• If officers present only an administrative document, staff are trained to:
  • Note the details,
  • Refrain from consenting to entry,
  • Contact counsel.

Attorneys emphasize these steps do not obstruct enforcement; they protect property rights and legal process while aiming to keep staff and congregants calm.

Advocacy, Legal Limits, and Community Supports

Advocacy efforts have increased alongside preparation:

• ILAP reports surges in requests for information sessions and legal clinics.
• Faith networks are urging members of Congress to resist broad sweeps and to prioritize pathways that reduce backlogs and keep families together.
• The Dream and Promise Act has been reintroduced as a potential route to status for DACA recipients and TPS holders, although its legislative future is uncertain.

Legal experts caution churches about bright lines:

• Churches cannot promise sanctuary as a guaranteed shield against arrest.
• Activities that are lawful:
  • Offering food, shelter, spiritual care, and accompaniment to appointments.
  • Helping with childcare when a parent must appear in court.
  • Connecting people to trusted legal help and keeping records of encounters.
• Activities that risk violating federal law:
  • Intentionally obstructing agents or harboring someone to block enforcement.

ILAP reports growing demand for basic supports and the formation of volunteer teams to meet that demand.

Maintaining Services While Preparing for Enforcement

Churches are trying to balance pastoral care with legal caution. Examples of ongoing and expanded efforts:

• Food pantries, ESL classes, and youth programs continue, with added staff training.
• Rapid‑response call trees to alert members during nearby operations.
• Coordination with hospitals and school districts to share accurate information about rights and access to care.

Community advocates stress broader social costs if fear keeps families away from services:

• Withholding medical care hurts public health.
• Skipping school harms children who are U.S. citizens as well as those without status.
• Enforcement near churches, schools, and clinics can reduce reporting of crimes and access to emergency help.

Resources and Next Steps

Practical resources available now:

• ILAP legal assistance and community education: https://ilapmaine.org
• Episcopal Diocese of Maine action alerts: https://episcopalmaine.org
• United Church of Christ legal guidance for churches: https://www.ucc.org/immigration-enforcement-action-what-churches-need-to-know/
• ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations: https://www.ice.gov/ero

ILAP and partner groups expect continued demand for trainings as volunteers learn to respond calmly and legally to enforcement actions. Maine churches say they will keep worship open, share accurate information, and urge calm — while acknowledging trust is fragile when enforcement reaches into spaces once considered safe.

The stakes are personal: a parent deciding whether to risk a trip to the ER is trying to keep a child healthy, not debating policy. Clergy say they will stand with those families — honoring both the law and the limits it sets — while urging lawmakers to pursue stability and humanitarian pathways that keep families together.

The coming months will test the new playbooks that blend pastoral care with legal caution. Despite the challenges, church leaders emphasize that welcome remains a core practice of their faith, and many hope lawmakers will move beyond short‑term enforcement debates to policies that bring long‑term stability to people who live, work, and worship across the state.