ICE Detains Maine Jail Officer Seeking Asylum

Gratien Milandou-Wamba, a former corrections officer at Cumberland County Jail in Maine who fled political persecution in the Republic of Congo, was detained by ICE while on his way to work after his visa expired, despite holding a valid work permit and applying for asylum. He remains incarcerated as he awaits an asylum hearing scheduled for October. Community members and local officials have voiced support for Milandou-Wamba and criticized ICE's targeting of law-abiding immigrants. The case is part of a wider national trend, with other asylum seekers in Portland, Oregon, and San Diego also being detained by ICE despite having no criminal records and actively pursuing legal status. Attorneys and advocates argue these actions undermine due process and heighten fear among immigrants complying with the law. ICE has not provided detailed explanations for these detentions, leading to calls for increased transparency and restraint.