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Thanks to the BDN for setting the record straight in the Jan. 24 article, “The Maine immigrant housing project attacked by Donald Trump Jr., explained.” Mr. Trump Jr.’s hateful rhetoric and falsehoods are at odds with reality.
Maine desperately needs immigrants. Our state’s economy cannot thrive without them. Asylum seekers are legally present immigrants. Federal law prohibits most asylum seekers from legally working in the United States for at least six months after applying for asylum.
However, once they receive a work permit, asylum seekers work in almost every sector of Maine’s economy. Like many past generations of immigrants, today’s asylum seekers often work at more than one job and take classes as they restart their lives in Maine.
My nonprofit organization, Hope Acts, supports many of these asylum seekers in various ways.
Last year, we assisted over 1,000 asylum seekers in obtaining their work permits. Our partnership with the Maine Department of Labor offers each work permit applicant the opportunity to meet with a representative of the Maine Career Center so they can learn about job openings with Maine employers.
Maine invests in housing for veterans, people with disabilities, and others struggling to find or maintain housing. By investing in housing for asylum seekers, our state provides a pathway for thousands of people to contribute to our economy.
Martha Stein
Executive director
Hope Acts
Portland