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| Making headlines, defending communities |
| Over the past month, our communities — our coalition members and partners, our families and friends — have been under attack by the unnatural disaster of reckless immigration enforcement in Maine. In response to this terror-like campaign by federal agencies, which seems to be condoned by DHS, we’ve dedicated much of our time to a surge of our own: a community-driven surge of accurate information. While we’ve been able to reach thousands with our social media, we reach many more by providing our data and analysis to news outlets. Over the past month, we’ve been featured in dozens of stories seen by millions across the state and beyond. Seven powerful news stories featuring MIRC |
- Where reports of ICE activity have come in across Maine Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News review and graphics from Maine Immigrant Defense Hotline data.
- ‘Sheer panic’: Executive director of Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition discusses ICE action (Video) MIRC Executive Director joins Total Maine (ABC) to discuss the wave of federal law enforcement activity.
- Immigrant Rights Leader in Maine Says ICE Raids Caused Panic & “Wave of Fear” (Video). MIRC Executive Director featured on Democracy Now!.
- Maine immigrant advocates mobilize as ICE presence expected to increase, hotline launched (Video) The National News Desk interviews MIRC.
- Federal agents detain workers from bus near Skowhegan Boston Globe quotes MIRC on CBP workplace raid targeting tomato farm employees.
- Federal agents arrest up to 19 at Madison farm, sparking community aid efforts (Video) News Center Maine interviews MIRC on CBP workplace raid.
- Maine considers shoring up rights for wrongfully detained immigrants MIRC quoted in Maine Morningstar article about a legislative bill proposed to secure legal assistance for Mainers whose rights may have been violated by federal agencies.
| Updates from the Hotline This week marks one month since the ICE surge began in Maine, we released a report looking at a full month of Hotline data. Check it out here on Facebook or Instagram. MIRC published a newsletter last week, The Switchboard, for Hotline volunteers and supporters. If you missed it, you can find it here. NOTE: If you’re not a social media user, you can also find all of our data reports on the MIRC website here. Fighting for fairness in Maine taxes MIRC joined Mainers for Tax Fairness at the State House, urging lawmakers to reject tax giveaways for wealthy households and large corporations, and instead raise progressive revenue to address Maine’s affordability crisis. We joined a press conference that coincided with hearings on Governor Mills’ supplemental budget. Speakers from various organizations emphasized that Maine must respond to harmful federal policy changes — including those in the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (HR1), which cut food assistance and health care to fund corporate and high-income tax breaks. Advocates urged lawmakers to ask millionaires and large corporations to pay their fair share (LD 229, LD 1089 and LD 1879) and to reject federal tax changes that benefit corporations but undermine the state’s ability to fund essential services. Learn more and take action here. |
| Two MIRC fundraisers coming up Join us for music on Feb. 20 in Portland and stand-up comedy March 28 in Bath. Mark your calendars, and invite a friend. |
Thank you for your support,  |
| Mufalo ChitamMIRC Executive Director P.S. If you are able to make a donation to sustain our work in this critical time, we welcome it and thank you immensely. |
| maineimmigrantrights.org | 207-956-7030Enhancing Immigrant Lives for a Stronger Maine! |