The Golden Door: October 2021
Legal and Policy Issues
We are closely monitoring state and federal immigration law and policy. Please check our social media accounts for more frequent updates.
CALL TO ACTION: Keep the Pressure on Maine’s Congressional Delegation – Maine Immigrants Deserve Citizenship!
President Biden has reaffirmed that immigration is still a key component of his Build Back Better (BBB) framework. The House of Representatives just announced that their BBB bill includes a large immigration component. Immigration is still a part of these proposed laws due to the leadership of the immigrant community and the massive public support for a pathway to citizenship.
After the Senate Parliamentarian knocked down the first two proposals from Senate Democrats to include pathways to citizenship in the reconciliation package, Senate Democrats are currently approaching the Parliamentarian with their “Plan C” that would provide work permits, ability to travel, and protection from deportation for millions of immigrants. This is not the pathway to citizenship that immigrant communities have been fighting for and deserve, but it would make a meaningful difference in millions of lives.
Remember, the Senate Parliamentarian is merely an advisor, and her rulings are non-binding. If the Senate Parliamentarian does not get to a yes on delivering protections for immigrants, Democrats in Congress and the Biden administration must use every available option to provide relief.
Poll after poll has shown the American public supports a path to citizenship for immigrants. It’s time for Democrats to use every political and legislative tool available to them to deliver concrete results this year.
ACT NOW: Call Maine's Congressional delegation to demand action on immigration.
📞 Sen. Susan Collins: (202) 224-2523
📞 Sen. Angus King: (202) 224-5344
📞 Rep. Chellie Pingree: (202) 225-6116
📞 Rep. Jared Golden: (202) 225-6306
If you live outside of Maine, you can find your representatives here.
Graphic courtesy of the We Are Home campaign, a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational coalition calling on the Biden administration and Congress to take immediate action to protect millions of immigrants and end the cruelty of our interior detention and deportation system. Learn more here!
Biden Administration Issues Memo Terminating Cruel and Inhumane Remain In Mexico Policy
ILAP welcomes the latest news that Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas issued a memorandum terminating the cruel and inhumane "Remain in Mexico" policy (called the Migrant Protection Protocols or "MPP"). This policy forcibly returns asylum seekers to Mexico to wait for their immigration court hearing after they are processed at the southern border, and a federal court recently ordered the United States to reinstate the program.
This program has abjectly failed to “protect” asylum seekers. By forcing families fleeing violence to await their hearings in border cities in Mexico, families have been exposed to even more traumatizing violence, torture, and kidnapping.
While this memo is a good first step, we must see quick action by the Biden administration to end MPP and welcome asylum seekers with dignity. This also means the administration must end its use of Title 42, a Trump-era policy the Biden administration is still utilizing to expel asylum seeking families at the border.
Biden Administration's New Immigration Enforcement Policies Are a Missed Opportunity
The Department of Homeland Security released new guidance on immigration enforcement, which describes which individuals should be prioritized for detention and deportation. Unfortunately, the guidance relies on the criminalization of immigrants and allows for too much Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer discretion. This discretion has historically been used to deport and detain individuals rather than to limit enforcement.
The guidance also describes anyone who has recently arrived to the country outside a port of entry as a threat to "border security." This group includes families fleeing persecution and seeking asylum who have no other way to enter the country.
There are some positive changes in the guidance, thanks to immigrant leaders who have fought for these changes. There are no longer categorical criminal exclusions, and officers must consider all facts and circumstances in a person's case. Also, there are considerations for worker, tenant, and civil rights in the guidance.
The Biden administration must hold ICE officers accountable, close detention centers, protect asylum seekers, and create a more just and humane immigration system.
DHS Expands Sensitive Location Policy
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its "sensitive location" policy. This policy previously limited immigration enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in places such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
The policy now also includes: places where children gather, like playgrounds, school bus stops, and recreation centers; social services establishments like domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, and food pantries; religious ceremonies; and public demonstrations. You can see all of the places listed here.
These protections are vitally important so immigrants, as well as their family and friends, can feel safe in carrying out daily activities such as taking children to school, showing up to traffic court or attending a hearing as a witness, going to a place of worship, or even taking a sick family member to the hospital.
While ILAP is disappointed in other Biden administration enforcement guidelines, we thank Secretary Mayorkas for safeguarding more locations that are central to families' daily lives.
A Closer Look
This section of the Golden Door takes “a closer look” at immigration using an intersectional lens based on a monthly theme.
Indigenous Sovereignty in Maine
The region commonly known as Maine where we all work, live, and play is the unceded, meaning stolen, homeland of the Wabanaki people. For thousands of years, the Wabanaki spanned northern New England, the Canadian Maritimes, and Quebec before colonizers arrived, decimating tribal populations and lands. Wabanaki people remain in Maine today, resilient and strong, still fighting for rights in their homeland. Visit native-land.ca to learn about the history of the land you occupy.
Indigenous Peoples' Day was on October 11th this year and Indigenous voices and perspectives are important all year long. We have a lot to learn from the original stewards of the lands and waters and it starts with listening to calls from the Wabanaki community for self-government and sovereignty.
The rights of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine have been severely restricted for 41 years due to the Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1980. The settlement has caused Indigenous tribes in Maine to miss out on federal legislation benefitting federally recognized tribes across the country, in total over 150 different laws. Proposed state legislation (LD 1626) looks to change that. In a recent Bangor Daily News op-ed, chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseets Clarissa Sabattis and chief of the Penobscot Nation Kirk Francis explained the legislation's importance, "Until the system is changed, Indigenous Peoples' Day does not honor the Wabanaki tribes."
Check out the events and organizations below to continue the momentum toward tribal sovereignty.
Keep Learning: Events
Register for the world premiere of Upstander Project's Bounty
Wednesday, November 10th at 7pm
Watch the recording of the virtual Rally for Wabanaki Rights, hosted by the Wabanaki Alliance
Register for League of Women Voters' virtual series, Understanding Dawnland Series Today: The Wabanaki and the State of Maine
November 17th and December 16th at 6pm
Listen to WERU 89.9 Wabanaki Windows radio show with Donna Loring
Support:
Wabanaki Alliance: Educating people and advocating for tribal rights in Maine
Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness: Cultivating the health of our communities
Sunlight Media Collective: Working to document and present stories affecting Wabanaki people and highlight Wabanaki perspectives
Wabanaki REACH: Supporting the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices
ILAP is learning alongside you. Do you have other resources to share? Feedback, questions? We would love to hear from you! Email sbarton@ilapmaine.org.
Fall Event Reimagined: People's History of Portland Walking Tour Series
In place of our traditional India Street Society Gathering, ILAP offered "People's History of Portland" walking tours with Seth Goldstein from Atlantic Black Box. It felt like such a special opportunity to gather safely in person after such a long time apart.
The tours began outside the home of ILAP's first office on India Street and wove throughout downtown Portland, highlighting the stories of the city's historically marginalized communities. We hope these tours are part of an ongoing conversation about Maine’s history and its future.
Thank you to Norway Savings Bank for making this event possible through their generous sponsorship!
If you were not able to join us, we extend our deep gratitude for your support! We look forward to more opportunities to gather together safely in the year to come.
“I enjoyed learning more about Portland’s growth and economic dependence on slavery and the Underground Railroad in Portland.”
