A recent story out of Maine has drawn attention to a tension many families quietly face: what happens when someone who is in the country legally still gets caught up in immigration enforcement? The situation involves a former state governor and current congressional candidate whose extended family member is reportedly facing deportation despite having a work permit. It also comes on the heels of a fatal enforcement incident in Maine earlier this year that has led to a congressional inquiry.
Below, we walk through what the news generally means for anyone trying to understand how immigration law treats lawful residents, work permit holders, and their families.
What Happened
According to reporting by The Daily Beast, a former Maine governor now running for Congress told reporters that a relative — described as his son's father-in-law — is being deported. The candidate reportedly said the family member was in the United States legally and held a work permit, but is being removed because of his country of origin. The country was not identified in the reporting.
The same candidate has publicly supported the work of immigration officers and has appeared at national political events promoting current enforcement policies. He reportedly told reporters he still supports going after "gangs and criminals" but said this particular removal was not right.
The article also revisits a separate July incident in Biddeford, Maine, in which a 26-year-old Colombian national was reportedly shot and killed by immigration officers who were attempting to execute a final removal order. The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly said the officer fired because of a public safety concern and alleged that the driver used his vehicle as a weapon. An attorney for the deceased man's family has reportedly disputed the government's account, and a congressional inquiry is underway. None of these allegations have been resolved in court.
Why It Matters Legally
The story touches on several distinct corners of immigration law that often get blurred together in public conversation.
First, there is the question of who can be deported. Many people assume that a work permit, a green card, or long-term residence shields someone from removal. Generally, that is not fully accurate. Lawful status can be revoked, expire, or become subject to review depending on the type of permit, changes in policy, or the outcome of an underlying application. Even lawful permanent residents can, in some circumstances, be placed in removal proceedings.
Second, the story raises questions about how enforcement decisions are made. Immigration officers generally have discretion about whom to arrest and detain, but that discretion operates inside policy guidance that changes from administration to administration. A person who was considered a low priority for enforcement under one policy framework may be treated very differently under another.
Third, the Biddeford incident highlights the civil rights side of enforcement. When someone is killed or seriously injured during a federal law enforcement action, potential legal issues can include excessive force claims, wrongful death, and constitutional violations — separate and apart from the underlying immigration case.
Who Could Be Affected
Cases like these tend to matter to several groups of ordinary people:
- Work permit holders who assume their Employment Authorization Document fully protects them from removal. Generally, a work permit reflects permission to work, not necessarily a durable immigration status.
- Family members of noncitizens, including U.S. citizen spouses, children, and in-laws, who may face sudden separation and often need help navigating detention and court systems.
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) with old criminal issues, lapses in paperwork, or contested applications, who may be surprised to learn they can still be placed in proceedings.
- People from countries subject to shifting policy designations, including changes to Temporary Protected Status, humanitarian parole, or visa programs.
- Bystanders and families present during enforcement actions, who could have claims if they were physically harmed or if their civil rights were allegedly violated.
How Cases Like This Generally Work
Immigration cases usually move through a system that is separate from the regular criminal and civil courts. In general terms, here is the shape of a typical removal case:
- Initiation. The government issues a document, often called a Notice to Appear, that describes why the person is allegedly removable.
- Detention or release. The person may be detained, released on bond, or placed on some form of supervision while the case proceeds.
- Master calendar and merits hearings. An immigration judge, who works for the executive branch rather than the independent judiciary, handles scheduling and then hears the case.
- Relief applications. The person may apply for forms of relief such as cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding of removal, or adjustment of status, depending on their history and eligibility.
- Appeals. Decisions can generally be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals and, in some cases, to a federal circuit court.
When an enforcement action results in death or serious injury, a parallel civil case may develop. That case generally focuses on whether officers followed use-of-force policies and constitutional standards, and it may involve the Federal Tort Claims Act or civil rights statutes. These claims typically have strict notice deadlines, sometimes as short as a few months from the incident.
What to Watch Next
Readers following either thread of this story may see several kinds of updates in the weeks and months ahead:
- Court filings in the removal case, if the family chooses to fight the deportation and if any part of the proceeding becomes public.
- Congressional inquiry results related to the July Biddeford incident, including any hearings, letters to the agency, or reports.
- Agency reviews by the Department of Homeland Security or its Office of Inspector General regarding the use of force.
- Civil litigation filed on behalf of the family involved in the fatal incident, which could include wrongful death and civil rights claims.
- Policy shifts at the federal level that could change how work permit holders and long-term residents are prioritized for enforcement.