I created a Black-owned business directory — ICE forced me to remove it

February 4, 2026 - 04:47

Rose Barboza, founder of the digital platform Black Owned Maine, has made the difficult decision to take down her comprehensive directory of Black-owned businesses. This action comes as a direct response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity within the state, which has instilled a climate of fear within immigrant communities.

Barboza spent years meticulously building the directory as a vital resource to foster economic growth and connection. It served as a beacon for consumers aiming to support local Black entrepreneurs and for business owners seeking visibility. The platform was more than a list; it was a community initiative celebrating and strengthening Maine's Black economy.

However, reports of ICE operations led to profound concern. Barboza states that community members, including both documented and undocumented immigrants, expressed fear that public data could be misused for surveillance or targeting. Faced with the potential of inadvertently putting people at risk, Barboza chose to prioritize community safety over the directory's presence.

The removal marks a significant loss for economic advocacy in Maine. It highlights how enforcement actions can create chilling effects that ripple far beyond their intended targets, inadvertently dismantling community-built support systems. Barboza’s decision underscores the difficult choices faced by organizers when the safety of their community is in the balance. The future of the directory remains uncertain as the community assesses the path forward.