Immigrant Defense Resource Hub
The Maine Immigrant Defense Resource Hub is designed to support individuals including immigrants and other concerned Mainers. There is a lot of information here! This is a working document, undergoing regular updates, translations, and legal review. Maintained by the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition.
Navigate the Resource Hub using the search headers below or use Ctrl+F to look up individual words.
Translations of the full Resource Hub are available in Español ↗ · Português ↗ · Other languages (Google Translate) ↗
If you are using screen readers, access the resource hub in plain text ↗
Call the Maine Immigrant Defense Hotline at —.
Know Your Rights
All people living in the United States have rights — regardless of your citizenship status. Take a moment to learn about your personal rights. You should learn about them beforehand so you can exercise them when needed.
Know Your Rights (KYR)
Rights for Unaccompanied Children
Awareness materials for unaccompanied minors.
Helpful Tools
Additional Reading
Know Your Status
The federal administration is making changes to immigration. Stay up to date on your immigration status and any changes that may be relevant to you.
People with Refugee Status
Set Up a USCIS Online Account
Request Your U.S. Refugee Application
Prepare for Potential Detention
Available in: Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French, Haitian Kreyol, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tigrinya, Ukrainian.
Refugee Revetting
IRAP guidance for recently arrived refugees on what to know about door-to-door ICE visits, detention, and re-interviews.
Asylum Seekers
Asylum Law Changes
People with Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS Law Changes
Make Your Plan
While we hope for the best, we need to plan for the worst.
Take a Moment — Mental Health Support
ShifaME (Spurwink)
Generational Noor
Build Your Own Plan
Appleseed Network Guide Builder
Write Down Basic Information — ILAP Worksheets
ILAP Preparation Worksheet
Plan for Your Kids and Finances
Child Care Planning
Designate a Legal Representative
Financial Education
Carry Needed Documents · Talk to Your Kids
Documents to Carry
Talking to Children About ICE
Helpful Tools
ReadyNow! App
InstaSOS App
Red Cards
Additional Reading
Planning Manuals & Toolkits
Find Resources
Organizations in Maine offer help to meet your basic needs: food, housing, health care, and more. If you are looking for people who can support you, please:
Resource Directories
Sexual Assault Support
Domestic Violence Support
Suicide Prevention
- AFSP Maine Chapter ↗
- Call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Text TALK to 741741
Healthcare Access
Tax Assistance
Documenting ICE — Your Right to Record
Everyone in the United States has the constitutional right to record public officials, including immigration or law enforcement officers, as long as doing so does not interfere with their duties. Your first priority, however, should be to do no harm.
How to Safely Film Immigration Enforcement
Multilingual Library on Filming ICE
You and Your Devices
100-Mile Border Zone
Electronic Device Searches
ACLU Immigrants' Rights
Report Abuses
ACLU of Maine
Support Detainees
If someone has been detained, you and your community need to work together to support them. Starred items are most urgent, but all items should be covered rapidly.
★ Track the Detained Person & Court Date
Locate the Person
Need: A-Number and country of birth, OR full name, country of birth, and date of birth.
Contact the Detention Facility
Court Date Information
★ Coordinate Legal Representation
ILAP — Free Legal Help for Detainees
For people detained by immigration officials living in Maine or held in Maine.
Pine Tree Legal — Farmworkers
Find an Immigration Attorney
Report Abuses
Collect Needed Information
What to Gather
- Basic: full legal name, address, family information
- Immigration / criminal: A-Number, country of birth, entry method, prior applications, receipt notices, police reports, charging and sentencing documents
- Emergency plan: review the detainee's prepared documents
- Detention incident: witness account of what occurred, who was present, agent statements, use of force
Financial Assistance
Maine Solidarity Fund
Bail and bond payments, legal fees, emergency family support, application fees. Eligible: immigrants, undocumented community members, marginalized communities.
Community Relief Fund (CRF)
Central, midcoast, and northern Maine. Bail support, monetary support, resource sharing, family strategy support.
Mainers for Humane Immigration
Commissary support, post-release support, bond assistance, paper bridges.
- Get help ↗
- Intake hotline: (207) 747-1409
- Program flyer ↗
Project Relief ME
Black immigrant–led mutual aid: housing, diapers, groceries, transport, clothing, legal aid.
BIJAN — Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network
For people with a Massachusetts connection (detained in MA, living in MA, or with immigration court in MA).
Local Community Support Groups
Statewide / Regional
Central / Midcoast / Northern
Other Community Resources
- Employer HR office
- Faith communities, PTOs, social clubs, neighborhood associations
- FindHelp.org ↗
- 211 Maine ↗
- Maine Immigrant Defense Hotline: —