State of Maine Archives: on Immigration
Betsy Sweet:
Pay for transition costs of new Mainers
Welcome Immigrants. State funding for communities to pay for transition costs of new Mainers--housing, English as a second language, social services--for a fixed period of time
(5 years) until new residents have the ability to support themselves with new businesses and jobs.
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2018 Maine Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Bruce Poliquin:
Legal immigration is good for America; illegal isn't
Support Legal, Not Illegal, Immigration: ACTION ITEMS:- Promote legal immigration; discourage illegal entry
- Secure our borders
- Ensure no unfair advantage for illegal immigrants
- Welcome those with specific skills to grow our economy.
Legal immigration is good for America; illegal immigration is not. We should encourage individuals and families to enter our country legally, not the other way around. Our borders and ports should be fully secured to prevent further illegal entry.
Then, we should reform our immigration system to control the number of new non-criminal immigrants who seek the blessings of American freedom and opportunity.
The federal government should institute a system, backed by stiff penalties, to verify that employers only hire workers who are here legally.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Charlie Summers:
No citizenship for illegals; yes temporary worker visas
Summers indicates support for the following principles regarding immigration. - Establish English as the official national language.
- Support a temporary worker program.
- Support harsher financial punishments for those
who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
- Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship.
- Support merit-based visas over family-based visas.
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Chris Lyons:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?
A: support
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maine Senate candidate
Mar 6, 2018
Eric Brakey:
Secure the border and keep immigrants off welfare
Milton Friedman, the Nobel-prize winning economist, once said, "It is just obvious you can't have open borders and a welfare state." And yet, many in Washington believe they can ignore the fundamental laws of economics, inviting the whole world to
America and signing them up for welfare when they arrive.Let me be clear: this is bankrupting us. We simply cannot afford it. When French and Irish immigrants arrived here in Maine, they came seeking opportunities to work, contribute and live the
American dream. There were not taxpayer-financed welfare programs for non-citizens like we have today.
Since that time, however, the welfare state has grown. Today, you can arrive in Maine and be signed up for welfare benefits on day one. This is not
how our system should function. Our immigration system is not a welfare program.
I will fight for common sense immigration policy. We cannot afford open borders and a welfare state. Its time for real welfare reform. And its time to secure our borders
Source: Facebook posting on 2018 Maine Senatorial campaign
Feb 8, 2018
Eric Brakey:
We must put our citizens first
Immigration: Support "DACA" recipients, "Dreamers," who grew up here after being brought here illegally?Brakey: Unclear on DACA. But says "We must put our citizens first."
King: Yes. Co-sponsored bill to create "a path to citizenship for Dreamers."
Ringelstein: Yes. "Make all DREAMers citizens."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Maine Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Janet Mills:
Condemns President's ban on refugees
Maine Atty Gen Janet Mills was among a group of the nation's leading Democratic legal officers who condemned President Trump's executive order restricting refugees from entering this country for 120 days, calling it "unconstitutional, un-American
and unlawful." "We're not talking about people who are our enemies," Mills said. "These are people who have been friendly to the American government." She also called Trump's decision to give preference to refugees who are Christian "disturbing."
Source: Press Herald on 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race
Jan 29, 2017
Jean Hay Bright:
Clamp down on undocumented workers via employers
At a time when our federal treasury is hemorrhaging red ink, we have millions of undocumented workers making undocumented money, paying no taxes, but using government services, from schools for their children, to the roads and highways to get to and from
work, to the social services or emergency health care that they do not pay for. Employers are the key The illegal workers and the employers who hire them are gaming the system. To stop this, we need to clamp down on employers who hire illegal workers
Source: Speech to Southern Maine Labor Council - Portland, Me.
Mar 1, 2006
Mary Mayhew:
Slash funds for new immigrants & asylum seekers
The Legislature's Appropriations Committee is working its way through Gov. LePage's proposed 2-year budget, which includes major cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. Among them is the elimination of state funding for the General
Assistance program, and eliminating welfare benefits for many non-citizens, including new immigrants and asylum seekers. DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew told lawmakers those and other cuts are needed, so that DHHS can help state government reduce costs.
Source: News Center Maine on 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race
Feb 22, 2017
Paul LePage:
Welcome immigrants, but no welfare for legal non-citizens
Maine was built by immigrants. The energy and aspirations of our immigrant ancestors powered our mills, carved out our farmland and built our shipyards. Maine must always be a welcoming place for those who seek an opportunity to advance
through hard work and self reliance. Despite our heritage, Maine is one of just a few places in the country that offers "welfare-on-day-one," for legal non-citizens.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
Paul LePage:
Build border fence as high as the Great Wall of China
[Gov. Paul LePage made a visit to a newly-opened call center in Bangor]; the audience was receptive, laughing at his jokes and nodding and clapping when he made comments about his no-holds-barred style and his stance on undocumented immigrants.
He insisted on calling them illegal aliens and explained that "what most people in Maine don't want to acknowledge is that the 'il' makes it unlawful," referring to the spelling of the word "illegal."
"They are going to our schools, and that's a real problem for me," said LePage, who is running against Democrat Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler.
"If we can't build a fence high enough . we ought to go to China and see how they built a wall," he said, which got laughs.
Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine Gubernatorial debate
Sep 4, 2014
Sara Gideon:
Urged support for DREAM Act
Q: Create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including "DREAMers" brought to U.S. as children?Sara Gideon: Yes. Urged Maine's congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act, with conditional legal status for undocumented youth.
Susan Collins: Yes. Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide a path to citizenship for "Dreamers."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Maine Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Sarah Palin:
Has not often expressed views on illegal immigration
Immigration: Being that her state only borders Canada and is thousands of miles from the Mexican border, Palin has not often expressed her views publicly on illegal immigration.
Source: WMTW TV-8 Portland Maine, ABC affiliate
Aug 29, 2008
Shawn Moody:
Work with federal officials against illegal immigrants
Work with federal government to comply with federal law and prohibit sanctuary cities in Maine. Notify and cooperate with the federal immigration officials when illegal immigrants are found by Maine state law enforcement officers.
Push for an end to any welfare dollars being used for illegal aliens. Crack down on employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
Source: 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race website ShawnMoody.com
Sep 1, 2018
Susan Collins:
Co-sponsored bill for path to citizenship for DREAMers
Q: Create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including "DREAMers" brought to U.S. as children?Susan Collins: Yes. Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide a path to citizenship for "Dreamers."
Sara Gideon: Yes. Urged Maine's congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act, with conditional legal status for undocumented youth.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Maine Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Zak Ringelstein:
Welcomes immigrants as assets to both society and economy
The American story is one of people coming to America with hopes and ideas and dreams. As has always been the case, our future prosperity depends on our ability to welcome immigrants with open arms. Immigrants start businesses at almost twice the
rate of native-born Americans, create jobs, build new innovation, contribute to research, and are active members of American communities. I stand with all immigrants who seek to make a better life for their family here in America.
Source: 2018 Me. Senate campaign website, RingelsteinForMaine.com
Jun 26, 2018
David Costello:
Comprehensive reform, resolve nation's worker shortages
David will help in addressing our nation's immigration challenges by supporting efforts to: -
Pass comprehensive immigration reforms that facilitate legal immigration and aid in resolving our nation's growing worker shortages.
Source: 2024 Maine Senate campaign website CostelloForSenate.com
Jul 24, 2023
Demi Kouzounas:
Illegal immigrants, drugs, and guns are crossing our border
[On the border]: "The Biden-Harris administration has been a complete failure with handling the crisis at the southern border," said Kouzounas. "With each passing day we reach new highs of illegal immigrants, drugs, and guns crossing our border. If the
Biden administration and the federal government won't keep us safe, it is up to each state to help. The Maine Republican Party is calling on Janet Mills to assist these states and play an active role in stopping this crisis and help keep America safe."
Source: Maine GOP Press Release on 2024 Maine Senate race
Jul 19, 2024
Demi Kouzounas:
DACA is unconstitutional executive action (oppose DREAMers)
Immigration: How to handle immigration and the border? Support a path to citizenship for "DACA" participants brought to the US as children?Demi Kouzounas (R): Pledges to "end the crisis at our
southern border that is ... threatening Maine families' safety." Calls for "each state" to help deal with border issues. Supports expediting asylum seekers' employment. In 2017: "DACA was an unconstitutional executive action from the beginning."
Angus King (I): Introduced a bill securing the border and streamlining the work-visa permit process. Supports a bipartisan immigration bill to address border reform. Introduced a bill to protect "Documented
[DACA] Dreamers" from deportation. "The United States is [a] nation of immigrants and also a nation of laws."
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Maine Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
Robert Charles:
Maine's Democrats are challenging removal of illegal aliens
Maine's Democrats are also challenging Trump's attempts to get illegal aliens, drug traffickers, gang members, and foreign terrorists out of
Maine, and they continue to give benefits to these same illegals, encourage them to come, and provide them with housing and credit cards. Victims? Maine citizens.
Source: Association of Mature Americans on 2026 Maine Governor race
Apr 16, 2025
Susan Collins:
Allow foreign religious workers to stay in the U.S.
Senator Susan Collins has introduced a bill to allow religious workers in the U.S. on temporary visas to stay while waiting for permanent residency. "The issue religious employees have faced with our visa system have evolved over time,"
Collins said. "But the result is the same. Religious organizations are harmed, communities are hurt, and religious workers are unable to pursue their missions.
Source: WGME, "Visas," on 2026 Maine Senate race
Apr 8, 2025
Hannah Pingree:
File suit against ICE for Constitutional violations
Hundreds in force, Mainers rallied this weekend against the Trump administration's immigration operation in the state, decrying the arrests of their neighbors and recognizing those afraid to leave their homes who couldn't join in protest.
Another Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Hannah Pingree, called on governors and attorneys general across the country to file suit every single time the Constitution is violated by ICE.
Source: Morning Star on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race
Jan 24, 2026
Graham Platner:
We need strong border security and a path to citizenship
It is long past time for serious immigration reform. Unfortunately, many multi-national corporations have no interest in this. They want illegal workers with no rights who they can pay slave wages and abuse at will.
I will support a path to citizenship and an end to the mass deportation machine. We need strong border security and a path to citizenship. We cannot do one without the other.
Source: 2026 Maine Senate campaign website GrahamForSenate.com
Mar 30, 2026
Rick Bennett:
Voted for new laws restricting cooperation with ICE
Bennett voted in favor of the new laws restricting cooperation with ICE. "There is a big difference between lawful cooperation and turning state and local systems into extensions of fear-driven federal enforcement,"
he said. "Our immigrant and refugee neighbors are part of Maine, and they should not be forced to live in fear because Washington politicians want to score points."
Source: Spectrum News on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race
Jul 28, 2026
Troy Jackson:
Ban ICE on state property without a judicial warrant
For years, ICE avoided enforcement at schools, hospitals, churches, and social services. Trump ended that policy. Now ICE agents can show up anywhere, anytime. As Governor, Troy will issue an executive order that:- a. Bans ICE enforcement on state
property unless agents have a warrant signed by a judge.
- b. Creates a hotline where Mainers can report ICE agents operating on state property without a warrant.
- c. Sends Maine State Police to investigate and document every reported violation
Source: WGME on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race
Mar 2, 2026
Susan Collins:
Need to reform ICE; cannot completely abolish it
Q: The two of you have disagreed since then over whether ICE should be reformed or eliminated.Jackson: This agency is so rogue that I don't know that it can be reformed, but I know for a fact that people are always going to know ICE as an outfit that
has murdered at least 4 people here in this country, and that is not law enforcement.
Collins: We need to reform ICE further. There's no doubt about that. The shooting in Biddeford was horrific, and the entire Maine delegation wrote to the
independent inspector general to ask for a thorough investigation, and that is underway, but we cannot completely abolish ICE. ICE is responsible for deporting violent criminals such as the member of the Venezuelan cartel that killed the
22-year-old nursing student. It's responsible for investigating child exploitation, drug smuggling. international cartels and financial crimes, pornography schemes. Do we really want to make the country less safe?
Source: C-SPAN transcript of 2026 Maine Senate debate
Oct 8, 2026
Troy Jackson:
ICE is an outfit that has murdered at least 4 people
Q: The two of you have disagreed since then over whether ICE should be reformed or eliminated.Jackson: The gentleman's name was Johann Sebastian Guerrero, and he had a 3 year old daughter, and the only mistake he made that morning was that he went to
work. And because Senator Collins is not willing to stand up to Donald Trump, he was murdered in the streets of Biddeford. This agency is so rogue that I don't know that it can be reformed, but I know for a fact that people are always going to know
ICE as an outfit that has murdered at least 4 people here in this country, and that is not law enforcement.
Collins: We need to reform ICE further. There's no doubt about that. The shooting in Biddeford was horrific, but we cannot completely abolish
ICE. ICE is responsible for deporting violent criminals. It's responsible for investigating child exploitation, drug smuggling. international cartels and financial crimes, pornography schemes. Do we really want to make the country less safe?
Source: C-SPAN transcript of 2026 Maine Senate debate
Oct 8, 2026
Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026