PORTLAND – Maine civil rights leaders are criticizing Gov. John Baldacci for amending an executive order that limited the ability of state law enforcement officials to question people about their immigration status.

Baldacci issued the order in April 2004 but amended it in February 2005 after federal border patrol agents and others expressed concern that it would keep state law enforcement officials from cooperating in federal investigations, state officials said.

The change came to light this week when Baldacci mentioned it during a news conference on the state’s response to the terrorist threat that was uncovered in Great Britain.

In response to the change, leaders for five civil rights groups issued a press release calling Baldacci’s action “deeply disturbing.”

They said the change would undermine immigrants’ trust in police and “treats every immigrant like a potential criminal.”

“The governor’s new executive order perpetuates racial profiling and anti-immigrant bias, heightening fears in communities of color across Maine,” said Rachel Talbot Ross, president of the Portland branch of the NAACP.

The governor’s original executive order was written after federal agents conducted immigration sweeps in Portland that sent fear through the immigrant community and left some afraid to leave their homes.

Specifically, it prohibited state police, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Maine Warden Service, state fire marshals and other state employees from asking a person’s immigration status “unless investigating or prosecuting illegal activity other than mere status as an undocumented alien.”

The original order was ushered in with fanfare at a signing ceremony, but the governor made no special announcement when the order was amended 10 months later.

Baldacci and other state officials said the change was done to ensure national security and public safety.

The change has no effect on state policy requiring law enforcement agents to avoid racial profiling and treat all Maine residents with respect, they said.

Civil rights advocates said they were unaware of any formal complaints of racial profiling or related behavior against state law enforcement officials since the governor changed the executive order, adding that most immigrants would be afraid to complain.

State police Maj. Robert Williams said state police are instructed in police academy and diversity training not to engage in racial profiling.

“We don’t routinely stop people who look like they’re from somewhere else and ask them about their status,” Williams said.

Police rarely have to ask about immigration status because the information comes up when a name is run through state and national data banks, he said.