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Molly Curren Rowles is executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine.
For more than 150 years, people across the globe have been inspired to come to this country in search of freedom, safety, and a better life. Immigrants have made the United States the wealthiest country in the history of the world and placed us at the forefront of technological innovation, scientific research and entrepreneurial capacity.
Successive waves of immigrants have shaped and reshaped every aspect of our society and culture, from the food we eat and the music we listen to, to our regional accents and religious practices. What makes America great has never been our ability to exercise physical force or intimidation.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, our strength is in our ability to understand ourselves as powerful individual parts of an unbroken whole. We are all bound together, and our futures and fortunes will always depend on our recognition of how connected we are.
Under our Constitution, we are all entitled to equality under the law and endowed with rights of due process, the right to vote and the freedom to speak, move and assemble without fear of political retribution. Despite these ideals, our country has long struggled to live up to its promises, but that has never stopped the American people from daring to create a more perfect union. Since its writing, the guarantees of our Constitution have inspired movements for freedom, peace and justice here at home and around the world.
As we mark Dr. King’s birthday this year, ICE is active across Maine, and we are preparing for a possible surge of additional force. We love to think we are done with history. But history is not done with us.
This year, we have the opportunity not only to remember and honor Dr. King’s legacy, but also to learn and apply his commitment to peaceful, nonviolent action. Now is the time to rediscover and reclaim his deep moral conviction that “unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality … even amid today’s mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow … [and] wounded justice can be lifted from this dust of shame.”
Maine people care deeply about and for one another. Elected officials, resource providers and organizations across the state are offering information, sharing mutual aid and supporting peaceful protest and safety for everyone. At the ACLU of Maine, we will be working to maintain the rule of law and the promises of the Constitution. Learn about your rights and resources, and remember these key points.
Key things to remember if you encounter ICE or Border Patrol:
— You always have the right to ask an ICE officer, “Am I free to leave?” If they say “yes,” calmly leave.
— You have the right not to open the door to your home or private areas of your business unless agents have a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
— An “administrative warrant” does not grant ICE permission to enter or search your private property.
— You have the right to not answer immigration officers’ questions and to tell immigration officers, “I am exercising my right to remain silent and would like to speak with an attorney.”
— Even if you exercise your rights, ICE may still detain you.
— If ICE tries to detain you, do your best to stay calm. Do not run away and do not resist.
— Never sign any documents or answer questions without consulting an attorney.
May we all be inspired by the incredible courage and strength of Dr. King’s unarmed truth and unconditional love as we face these challenging times together. You can learn more about your rights and what to do if you or a loved one is detained by ICE at ACLUMaine.org.