Ex-Maine Councilor’s Powerful Speech Challenges City’s Stance Against ICE Collaboration

At a recent city meeting, a former councilman from Maine delivered a fervent address against an emergency ordinance aimed at preventing city workers from collaborating with federal immigration officials. Despite his objections, the ordinance was ultimately approved.

During the public comment phase, ex-Lewiston City Council member Tim Gallant voiced his concerns about the new regulation, which was passed with a 5-2 majority.

The ordinance, designed to restrict city employees, including law enforcement, from engaging with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saw both advocacy and opposition from the community.

Expressing his disapproval, Gallant questioned the measure’s intent, saying, “My biggest issue with this is that you’re focusing on supporting just 10% of the city’s population by the 2025 census. What considerations are being made for the remaining 90%?”

“My biggest problem with all this is you’re trying to support 10% of the city by the census in 2025,” Gallant said. “What about the other 90%? What are you doing for them?

“How many gunshot issues have we had since ICE came to town? How about zero?” he added. “Look at the police blotter. Zero. When’s the last time we had three or four months of zero problems? But that doesn’t count. That’s not a crime problem, obviously, to the mayor.” 

In this handout provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, foreign nationals were arrested during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (DHS)

Matt Kershaw, a Marine veteran, said he supports the ordinance, calling it a responsible move.

“We had to lock the doors in our church because people were afraid to sit through the service,” he said, according to News Center Maine. 

“So, whether or not that’s the intent, that is the effect. And I don’t think there’s anything ridiculous or over-the-top in exerting some reverse federalism here and saying, ‘You know what, until you guys figure this out, we’re not going to go along with this.’”

The emergency ordinance is similar to a recently passed state law that also limits cooperation with federal immigration officials, but that law won’t take effect until the summer. 

The Lewiston ordinance will fill that gap in the meantime. Gallant noted the state measure in his remarks, saying city officials should be more concerned with public safety. 

“You need to think about public safety and how we take care of it,” he said. “You need to think about how to get ICE back in here because if we didn’t have people who are illegal, they wouldn’t be here. You know, I keep hearing they’re hiding in their houses. If you’re not illegal, why do you hide in your house?”

Once passed, the emergency ordinance took effect immediately. However, it expires in 60 days. Lawmakers will vote whether to make the ordinance permanent at the next city council meeting.