The town resident picked up by federal immigration agents last week was last known to be detained at a detention center in Rhode Island.
The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, a statewide network of organizations, has learned that Carlos Santos was being detained at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, according to Scott Landis of Academy Street.
Santos, who has lived on Main Street for well over a decade, was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents early on the morning of April 16, setting off a flurry of discussions in town and on social media about immigration issues and how to help Santos’ family.
According to a statement from ICE, Santos, who is from the Dominican Republic, was arrested on drug or alcohol-related violations and had an order of removal by an immigration judge from 2012.
Records from the Strafford County Superior Court indicate that Santos in 2009 pled guilty to 2008 charges of possession of narcotic drugs with intent and sale of narcotic drugs, but that those convictions were vacated in 2021.
Attorney Brian Lavallee of Portsmouth, N.H., confirmed Monday that he represented Santos beginning in 2012, and filed motions at that time to vacate the convictions, which were finally vacated in 2021.
“We successfully reversed both convictions from 2009,” Lavallee said. “The convictions and the sentences were vacated.”
Last week’s detention of Santos spurred a community fundraising effort by neighbors. The newly established Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund was created as a GoFundMe campaign by Sam Flinkstrom, a town councilor, and Roxanne Poulin, the owners of Happy Valley Beer & Wine Garden.
Created April 17, the campaign says its goal is “to help South Berwick’s immigrant residents and families who are facing sudden hardship related to actions by ICE.”
“Our focus is not politics or speculation; it is helping neighbors when help is needed,” Poulin said.
