Democrats Hiding Illegals –  Why?

Maine’s Democrat legislature slammed Maine voters again. They just gave illegal aliens, with no valid asylum claim, illegally here, known felons, “sanctuary.” They passed a bill to hide illegals from ICE, forbidding police from cooperating. Why?

The answer must be a good one because the pain that is inflicted on Mainers – as in other sanctuary states – is huge. Contrary to what you hear, sanctuary jurisdictions are measurably more violent, and face more property crime, drug trafficking, overdose deaths, worker displacement, homelessness, foreign gangs, and fear.

Data analyzed by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in 2024 is sobering and should give pause to Maine’s Democrat Governor. To favor illegal aliens over citizens pushes crime, overdose deaths, and gangs.

One credible review, entitled “Sanctuary Cities: Rising Crime Rates…” reveals that “sanctuary cities reported an average crime rate of 1,442 crimes per 100,000 residents. In contrast, non-sanctuary cities had a much lower average crime rate of 955 crimes per 100,000 residents…This stark difference highlights the potential risks associated with sanctuary policies.”

In a nutshell, “sanctuary” states promote lawlessness. They attract criminals, drug traffickers, overdose deaths, and all types of crime. Maine police blotters tell a gut-wrenching story in living – or dying – color, imported pain, death, and heartache.

Validating that link, the CDC details “the relationship between illegal drug trafficking and sanctuary policies,” reporting “sanctuary states accounted for nearly 70 percent of all drug overdose deaths …This alarming statistic suggests a troubling correlation between … illegal immigrants and the rise in drug-related fatalities.”

In short, Maine bankrolls the illegals’ lifestyle with free housing for thousands, no right to be here, and lawbreakers who displace citizens, including homeless veterans.

Maine downplays how much they give illegals but the benefits include free housing, food, health, and legal aid, as well as unfettered public education – which objectively erodes Maine’s ability to manage the average classroom and outcomes.

Before 2023, non-citizen children and pregnant women got MaineCare (Medicaid) under the CHIP program, a magnet for illegals. CHIP coverage is capped at $98,000.

After 2023, although federal law prohibits illegals from Medicaid, Maine’s Democrat legislature gave it to them anyway, passing the cost on to Maine taxpayers – pulling from Maine’s General Fund.

Once illegal aliens have a child in Maine, any family member can apply for full medical coverage. After five years, a non-citizen can get full MaineCare benefits.

Hard to assess is the high cost on working Mainers of these policies, more absurd after the 2025 Democrat legislature forced non-cooperation with ICE, saying local law enforcement will be punished for cooperating with ICE.

Newsweek did a tabulation in 2024, concluding illegal aliens cost the State of Maine $67,795,358 per year.

Assuming 660,000 Mainers work, likely an overstatement since they are Democrat numbers, working Maine taxpayers pay $103 each for an illegal alien. Obviously not fair, and not what Mainers want, the question is why?

The answer, unfortunately, is that Maine’s Democrat leaders are more interested in following a radical national agenda than listening to the average Mainer. They want another 75,000 illegals in the State, on top of today’s roughly 8,000.

What can possibly be in this for them? No one will say so, but Maine Democrats vehemently oppose voter ID. Think about it. In a closely divided State, a few thousand votes – a few hundred last cycle – keep them in power. Need more?