Maine governor allows state to question immigration status

[Maine-ah]

Source: BDN

AUGUSTA, Maine — In one of his first official acts, Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday issued an order allowing officials in state agencies to question people with whom they come into contact about their immigration status, infuriating civil libertarians.

The Republican’s executive order Thursday rescinds one that had been issued by his Democratic predecessor, John Baldacci, that barred state officials from asking about immigration status. It says the previous order “may have created the impression that Maine was a so-called ‘sanctuary state’ for those who are in the United States without lawful status.”

LePage spokesman Dan Demeritt said the governor wanted to send a message to those who have heard it’s easy for illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses and social services in Maine.

LePage, asked why he issued the order, said, “We have got many fiscal issues, and I’m intending to take care of Mainers first.”

Read more: http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/01/06/politics/maine-governor-allows-state-to-question-immigration-status/

[midnight]

1. Show us your papers.......

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Too bad no one asked his wife to show papers when she applied for a FL license.

I feel sorry for the people of Maine. LePage has already engaged in nepotism (I guess government is smaller when it's all in the family)and now this. Yeah, looking for illegals is a top priority in solving the fiscal problems in the state. What an idiot.

I'm willing to bet that one or both of his parents were illegal immigrants and he's just getting back at them.

[DCKit]

3. Those poor Canadians. nt

[formercia]

4. Old Orchard Beach should be empty next Summer.

:rofl:

[saras]

5. Yes, but...

Are the individuals involved allowed to answer "It's none of your business"?

[Marnie]

6. Maine is one of the poorest states in the union.

One of its only cash crops is the small native blue berries which grow on small shrubby plants about ankle high. Large growers do have mechanical harvesters but thousands of blue berry fields are picked by local seasonal and illegal stoop labor, by hand.

The same is true of the cranberry crop.

Run off the illegal Mexican labor and Maine just might have to pay to truck them in from Laredo.

[high density]

7. This our new teabagger governor starting out as expected

I expect LePage and Maine will soon be a recurring theme on The Daily Show, joining South Carolina and Arizona.

[RedCloud]

8. An issue-less agenda will always pit people against people.