Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nabbed IAM member Maximo Londonio from the airport last Thursday. Londonio, his wife Crystal, and their 12-year-old were returning from a trip to the Philippines. There, they visited family and celebrated 20 years of marriage. He intended to return to work at the Crown Cork and Seal manufacturing company in Lacey, Washington, where he is “a lead union member” of IAM Local 695.1 International President Brian Bryant has called for Brother Londonio’s immediate release:
Like so many across our country, our IAM Union Brother Maximo is simply trying to be the best husband and father he can be and provide for his family. To our knowledge, there has been no evidence to support the U.S. government’s continued detention of Maximo. We call for his immediate release.2
CBP standards indicate people “should generally not be held for longer than 72 hours [3 days] in CBP hold rooms or holding facilities.”3 Londonio has remained in CBP’s custody now for 7 days. Tanggol Migrante Network believes Londonio was detained because of nonviolent convictions from more than two decades ago, reports The Seattle Times. But his wife hasn’t gotten any answers about her husband or his detainment.4
Last week, I reported a disturbing trend. Departments of Homeland Security are targeting union members and activists. This may be the first story about an IAM member being targeted, but it will not be the last. “Some Maine towns are helping ICE and CBP detain people” already, Channa Steinmetz wrote for the Beacon in April.5 Since then, Maine lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit local agencies from partnering with federal immigration authorities.6 Monmouth and Winthrop have withdrawn applications to enter into partnerships with ICE after intense opposition from residents.7 Wells has likewise adopted a “wait-and-see approach.”8 These victories have not stopped federal agencies from going after Mainers. So far this year, Border Patrol has already made more “immigration-related arrests” in Maine than they did in all of 2024.9 “Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset is currently detaining up to 25 people for ICE, and Cumberland County Jail in Portland is holding 80” under contracts with the U.S. Marshals Service.10 BIW workers live all over the state. We come from all walks of life. How long before one of us runs afoul of arbitrary immigration authorities, too?
Londonio may be a Filipino living 3,000 miles away in Washington. Hard-working Mainers still have more in common with him than they do with the rich who draw on geography to divide us.
- Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks & Caitlyn Freeman, “Another Filipino green card holder returning to WA detained at Sea-Tac,” The Seattle Times, May 19, 2025. ↩︎
- Brian Bryant, “IAM Union Calls for Immediate Release of Wrongfully Detained Member in Washington State,” news release, May 20, 2025. ↩︎
- Customs and Border Protection to Congress, “Short Term Detention,” December 17, 2024, 2. ↩︎
- Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks & Caitlyn Freeman, “Another Filipino green card holder returning to WA detained at Sea-Tac,” The Seattle Times, May 19, 2025. ↩︎
- Channa Steinmetz, “Some Maine towns are helping ICE and CBP detain people, and the ACLU wants to know more,” Beacon, April 22, 2025. ↩︎
- Rachel Ohm, “Advocates urge lawmakers to ban Maine police from cooperating with ICE,” Portland Press Herald, May 20, 2025. ↩︎
- Emily Duggan, “Monmouth police department withdraws ICE training application,” Kennebec Journal, April 18, 2025. ↩︎
- Dylan Tusinski, “Wells halts ICE partnership after pushback from legislators, residents,” Portland Press Herald, May 21, 2025. ↩︎
- Wendy Watkins, “Border Patrol arrests 39 across Maine in immigration crackdown,” Bangor Daily News, May 3, 2025. ↩︎
- Channa Steinmetz, “Some Maine towns are helping ICE and CBP detain people, and the ACLU wants to know more,” Beacon, April 22, 2025. ↩︎
From The Deckplates 