Gov. Janet Mills Refuses To Act As Maine Becomes De Facto Sanctuary State
January 7, 2026 12:01 PM ET
Maine is set to become a de-facto sanctuary state for illegal immigrants in the final year of Democratic Governor Janet Mills’ term.
Mills, a two-term governor vying to defeat Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins during November’s midterm elections, declined to veto a bill limiting local law enforcement’s collaboration with federal immigration authorities in December. Republicans and law enforcement groups argued the sanctuary state proposal will keep dangerous criminals on the street by shielding illegal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement.
“Limiting cooperation between Maine law enforcement and federal authorities – a longstanding tradition due to Maine’s extensive foreign border – shows a reckless disregard for public safety and will put Maine’s public at risk,” Maine state House Republicans said in a statement. “By restricting law enforcement access to individuals already in custody, this law shields criminals and weakens efforts to prevent crime.”
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled state legislature in June with no Republican support. Mills did not weigh in at the time, despite law enforcement groups speaking out against the measure. She chose not to sign or veto the measure, effectively allowing the legislation to become law when the state legislature reconvened Wednesday.
Mills cited the Trump administration’s aggressive illegal immigration crackdown in an op-ed expressing her support for the bill, adding that the measure is “imperfect,” but necessary in her view.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to ICE’s [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] unacceptable actions, and so I have chosen to allow LD 1971 to become law,” Mills wrote.
She also highlighted her decision to repeal a 2011 executive order issued by then-Republican Gov. Paul LePage advocating for “enhanced cooperation” between state and federal law enforcement officials on immigration enforcement
ICE director Todd Lyons blasted Mills’ decision that would effectively tie the hands of local law enforcement to assist federal authorities. The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to crack down on jurisdictions that limit assistance with immigration enforcement.
“Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens,” Lyons said in a statement. “It comes as no surprise that they would want to hamstring their law-enforcement from helping federal officers arrest rapists, murderers, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists.”
https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2026/01/07/janet-mills-maine-sanctuary-state-senate/