The Golden Door: May 2022
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ILAP Joins 80 Partners in Calling on Governor Mills to Coordinate Shelter and Services for Newly Arriving Asylum Seekers in Maine
In response to the City of Portland’s May 5 announcement that it could no longer guarantee shelter or coordinate services for newly arriving asylum seekers, ILAP joined forces with nearly 80 local, state, and national organizations in calling on the State to respond, as well as for action from the federal government and other municipalities.
The letter, covered on the front page of the May 24 Portland Press Herald, makes clear that a “coordinated, state-wide effort is necessary to meet the moment.”
The letter continues: “Asylum is a human right guaranteed by international and U.S. law, and it is the government’s responsibility to care for and protect people seeking asylum. As we call on you to take action, however, we reaffirm our commitment to welcome and to support you in this rapid response and in creating longer term infrastructure to provide asylum seekers with the tools and assistance needed to find stability and security and start new lives. We believe in the values that the right to asylum upholds, and know that when we welcome asylum seekers, we all benefit.”
CALL TO ACTION: Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act NOW!
Afghans evacuated to the U.S. as the Taliban seized control still wait on Congress to pass legislation that would provide green cards and the opportunity for lasting stability and security. Without the Afghan Adjustment Act, 250 Afghan evacuees in Maine, and tens of thousands across the U.S., are stuck trying to navigate complex immigration processes with no guaranteed outcomes.
Congress must act now to protect and help our new neighbors as they rebuild their lives. Follow and support Afghan-led organizations such as the Afghan Community of Maine, Afghan American Foundation and the Afghan-American Community Organization and take action below now!
Federal District Court in Louisiana Blocks End of Deadly and Racist Title 42 Policy
On May 20, a federal district court in Louisiana blocked the end of the Title 42 policy at the U.S.-Mexico border, which the Biden administration had set to expire on May 23 after a hard-fought battle from immigrant rights advocates. Title 42, put in place under the previous administration and continued under the Biden administration, uses the pretext of public health to block people from exercising their right to seek asylum. The United Nations has continually called on the Biden administration to end the policy and bring the United States “in line with international legal and human rights obligations.”
The human consequences, especially for Haitian and other Black immigrants, are devastating. Hear from Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance as she sheds light on the hundreds of asylum seekers – including babies – who were expelled to deadly conditions in Haiti just over a single May weekend.
ILAP stands with asylum seekers everywhere and calls on the administration to take every step to end this inhumane, racist policy.
ILAP's Public Comment Recommends Changes to Proposed Asylum Rule Before Implementation
In March 2022, the Biden administration issued an "interim final rule" proposing major changes to the way asylum claims are processed at the U.S.-Mexico border. These changes are slated to go into effect at the end of this month.
ILAP submitted a public comment, recommending that the rule not be implemented as proposed due to unreasonable timelines, disparities in asylum office grant rates, and concerns about asylum seekers' due process rights. Our comment made clear:
Due process, access to justice, and the rights of asylum seekers must always be prioritized above speed.
USCIS must address disparities in asylum office grant rates to ensure fairness and due process in the proposed asylum merits interviews.
Rushed timelines in the interim final rule will create delays in obtaining work authorization, impacting asylum seekers’ security and stability.
Automatic Work Permit Extensions for Many Immigrants
On May 4, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain work permits that qualified for automatic extensions of work authorization for 180 days will now be valid for up to 540 days.
This much-needed step is aimed at reducing gaps in work authorization and other serious consequences that immigrants have been facing due to extreme backlogs at USCIS.
Learn more:
Resources Roundup: For Afghans Evacuees
ILAP has compiled a list of resources about legal options for Afghan evacuees and other helpful links in English, Dari, and Pashto. These resources are intended for Afghan evacuees and parolees resettled in the U.S. via Operation Allies Welcome.
Find the resources here!
ILAP is Hiring a Human Resources Director
ILAP is seeking a Human Resources Director to join our team. ILAP has grown significantly in the past five years, and we are looking to bring someone on board who can build an HR infrastructure to support our growth.
If you have human resources experience, a passion for ILAP’s mission, and a commitment to racial justice and equity, please consider applying!
ILAP is committed to having a respectful, collaborative, and equitable work environment, with equal opportunity for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, and other underrepresented and historically oppressed groups.
Review of applications will begin on June 3 and will continue until the position is filled.
Help Us Meet Our Match!
This spring has brought painful reminders that rights are not guaranteed and must be championed day in and day out. That’s why ILAP exposes injustices in the immigration system and ensures immigrant Mainers have access to the rights and protections they’re entitled to, whether a trafficking survivor, seasonal farmworker, or family fleeing conflict. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to these efforts.
With your support, in the coming months we’ll continue to welcome asylum seekers with dignity, uphold the promise of protection for immigrant youth, and demand safety, freedom, and opportunity for everyone who calls Maine home, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
Please consider a gift to ILAP today and join us in the thoughtful and sustained work ahead. The George J. and Theresa L. Cotsirilos Family Foundation has generously agreed to match up to $10,000 in donations through June 30, so your gift will make double the impact!