Special Edition: ICE Out of Wabanakiak
It feels like all eyes are on Minnesota right now, and for good reason. But this post is about the ICE surge in Maine– if only to explain why I won't be doing my regular weekly posts until conditions improve on the ground here.
ICE launched "Operation Catch of the Day" last week, claiming they had 1,400 targets in Maine. In this short time they have wreaked terror, chaos and lawlessness in our communities. (For details, see the Portland Press Herald's rolling coverage, no paywall.) And along with the same kinds of atrocities being reported nationwide, we know that many of the people detained were profiled by race or language because they did not even meet ICE's stated criteria for arrest: criminal record or unauthorized status.
I am responding in various ways, and so are my patients. I am abnormally busy while also holding even more secondary trauma than usual in my job. I can't write much for an audience, for now, because my attention is real-time and roving: hopefully suited to resisting a police state, but definitely not to writing at the standard of quality I want. And even if I wanted to just hole up with my laptop, I don't think I could. I say that my purpose is my people. That would feel hollow if I didn't step up when a crisis like this struck home. So I've accepted that I'm going to drop the ball somewhere, and it can't be patient care.
As of today, January 29
Sen. Susan Collins has announced the surge is over. Ta-da!
However:
1) "Normal operations" by ICE and CBP will continue in Maine. This could mean anything, since they're totally unaccountable. Even our city and state governments are still on guard. I wouldn't be surprised if the next strategy is simply to claim an enforcement action is over and expect people not to believe what they are still seeing. (Another involved Mainer points out this seems to be the current approach with Israel's aggression toward Palestinians.)
2) I assume the (purported) stand-down is a favor to Collins in exchange for her vote for further ICE funding. Classic Collins: make a superficial move to gain leverage, then sell out your constituents no matter how clear their wishes are. She insults our intelligence yet again. But it does feel like she, ICE, and ICE supporters were unprepared for Mainers' organization and resistance.
Maine is not always a welcoming place for newcomers. It's certainly not very diverse, compared to the rest of the US- and despite what a lot of white Mainers like to think, our homogeneity comes not just by happenstance. In addition to basic structural racism, we do a lot of folksy white gatekeeping around who is a "real" Mainer. I thought requiring "three generations in the ground" was ridiculous until I heard ten. But we are rising to this occasion to redefine ourselves. This is Wabanakiak, "the Dawnland," in the first languages spoken here; it is "land of the first light" or "where the sun first looks at you." None of us owns this place.
Want to send money for immigrants' legal representation or other financial assistance? Check out Project Relief Maine and/or the Maine Solidarity Fund.
Mainer who wants to help but doesn't know where to start? Contact me directly.
Cure addiction amongst yourselves. Also abolish ICE. I'm not sure when, but I'll be back!
