Welcome to Amjambo Time. I’m Eloge Willy Kaneza. Today, we’re talking about how recent ICE operations in Maine spread fear through immigrant communities — and how that fear quickly turned into a housing crisis for hundreds of families. In late January, fear moved faster than snowstorms. It crept into apartments, workplaces, and school drop-off lines. Streets emptied, doors stayed closed, and livelihoods went silent. For many immigrant families, the surge in ICE raids didn’t just threaten arrests — it triggered a housing emergency. To understand the impact, I spoke with Claude Rwaganje, executive director of ProsperityME, a community organization supporting immigrants and refugees across Maine. Rwaganje told us, “People were afraid to go to work, afraid to take their children to school, afraid to go to church or even to the grocery store.” Even those with legal status — green card holders or asylum seekers — stayed home, unsure who might be next. That meant no income, but rent didn’t wait. One single mother didn’t leave her apartment for a week. Her car was towed, costing five hundred dollars, with no income to cover it. The ICE surge affected more than families. Immigrants make up much of Maine’s essential workforce — hospital staff, cleaners, drivers, and food service workers. When fear forced them into hiding, hospitals struggled to staff shifts, businesses couldn’t operate, and children missed school. Rent quickly became the most urgent problem. Families lost income overnight, had no savings, and eviction notices loom after 30 days of unpaid rent. To respond, ProsperityME launched an emergency housing relief fund, providing up to three hundred dollars per household to cover part of rent or prevent immediate crisis. The fund prioritizes families affected directly by ICE raids, those with reduced wages, and the most vulnerable households. It’s a one-time intervention — not an ongoing subsidy — designed to help families regain stability. While evictions haven’t peaked yet, the risk is real. ProsperityME works with partners like Project Home, which has raised three hundred thirty thousand dollars for rental relief. But the line between fear and eviction remains thin. This crisis underscores a vital truth: immigrants are essential to Maine. They’re workers, taxpayers, business owners, and members of our communities — not criminals. When enforcement disrupts their lives, it affects the state’s economy, housing, and social cohesion. Thank you for listening to this episode of Amjambo Time. Stay informed, stay engaged, and continue supporting our immigrant communities. Follow us online at www.amjamboafrica.com and on our social media platforms. Share stories from your community by reaching out to us — we want to hear from you. Until next time, keep listening, keep learning, and keep building stronger communities together.
