PoliZette: Maine Sheriff Under Fire for Refusal to Honor ICE Detainers

IRLI In The News

September 28, 2017

By Brendan Kirby

A Maine sheriff who raised the ire of Gov. Paul LePage over his policy regarding federal immigration enforcement defended his stance Wednesday and said his county is no “sanctuary” jurisdiction.

But Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce, whose jurisdiction includes Portland, said he decided last week to stop honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement cases out of concern that he was exposing his county to civil liability.

“We’re not a sanctuary county,” he told LifeZette. “We’re just trying to be practical.”

Joyce’s comments come after LePage sent a letter to the state’s sheriffs reminding them that under the state’s constitution, he has authority to remove sheriffs who fail to perform their duties. Although the letter did not call out any sheriff by name, many observers in the state believe it was aimed at Joyce. … Read the full story by Brendan Kirby.

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