The Reality Facing #AsylumSeekers in #Maine

Posted By: Nancy English, January 02, 2026

Excerpt:

"Caring City

Portland has proven its support time and time again. The City opened the Portland Exposition Building in 2019 and again in 2023 to help immigrants seeking refuge. Helped by City workers, local nonprofits, and volunteers, many found housing and received work permits. But now, grants and federal support are drying up.

'Things are really stressful and chaotic,' Stein said. 'The rules keep changing all the time. The fees asylum seekers pay have had huge increases.'

As she talked to me, she read a news alert on her phone about a change in the duration of work permits. From December 4th, newly issued work permits will expire after 18 months, instead of the previous five years.

Lives Disrupted

The Immigrant Legal Aid Program (#ILAP) offers immigrants legal support and far more. Lisa Parisio, ILAP’s Policy Director, said, 'People in Maine are having their immigration statuses and protections stripped away, losing access to work permits, and immigration enforcement has dramatically increased.'

Families left without bread winners, possibly without a vehicle or other resources, are trying to get on with their lives.

'Be as prepared as possible,' advised attorney Jenny Beverly, an immigration attorney working at Haven Law in Portland, Maine. 'Give a trusted friend a copy of your complete asylum application, with copies of entry documents, passports, ‘Notice to Appear,’ evidence of filing (a receipt given on acceptance of an asylum application).'

Family will need all that and more simply to find someone detained by federal agents. At the very least, she said, 'Share your alien number, birthplace, birthdate, and your full name.' "

Read more:
https://thewestendnews.com/the-reality-facing-asylum-seekers-in-maine/

#USPol #MainePol #SanctuaryCities #PortlandME #NewMainers #SanctuaryCity #WelcomeNewMainers #Refugees #Immigrants #TrumpSucks