The Golden Door: May 2023
Remembering Hayden Anderson
Hayden welcomes guests to ILAP’s CeleSoirée in 2012.
This month, we remember Hayden Anderson, who died after a year-long battle with colon cancer. Hayden served as ILAP’s Development Director and Interim Executive Director from 2009-2012, leading the organization through a time of transition and leaving an enduring legacy that continues today.
Thank you, Hayden, for your thoughtfulness, wit, and always making everyone and everything around you better.
Hayden touched the lives of so many in our community and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, friends, and all who knew him.
Title 42 Ends, Biden Asylum Ban Begins
On May 11, after years of tireless work by immigrant and human rights activists and organizations, Title 42 finally ended. Title 42, a public health law, was used as a pretext during the COVID-19 pandemic to deny people their right to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Just in the time period Title 42 was used under the Biden administration, Human Right First documented nearly 13,500 reports of murder, torture, kidnapping, rape, and other violent attacks on migrants and asylum seekers blocked in or expelled to Mexico under Title 42. The full toll of this deadly, racist policy will never be known.
But as Title 42 ended, the Biden administration put in place a new asylum ban, which like the extremist anti-asylum policies before it will result in massive human suffering and the denial of due process and human rights on America’s doorstep. In the face of continued catastrophic policy at the border, ILAP remains steadfast and in solidarity with forcibly displaced people everywhere.
Effective, just, and humane asylum policy is possible and necessary. Learn more about what is needed to transform our re-envision our asylum system from the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign.
ILAP Mourns Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez
Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez, an eight-year-old child, tragically died in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody on May 17. Anadith’s mother sought medical care for her at least three different times.
As we mourn yet another needless death, ILAP joins partner organizations across the country in condemning the incarceration of migrant children and families. Learn more from The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights and support their work!
Advocacy Spotlight: A Chance to Come Home Campaign
ILAP applauds the launch of the National Immigrant Justice Center’s A Chance to Come Home Campaign. The campaign builds on advocacy work calling for the creation of a process for people who have been unjustly deported from the United States to come home.
Check out this campaign to learn more about people who have been unjustly deported and are fighting to reunite their families and to live in safety. A special shoutout to the Ohio Immigrant Alliance for their incredible and longstanding work on these issues.
Join Our Team!
ILAP is hiring a Rural Maine Project Attorney or Accredited Representative!
The Rural Maine Project Attorney/Accredited Representative will lead our work connecting farmworkers and other immigrant communities in rural Maine with legal services, addressing labor trafficking, and working together with partners to build a stronger safety net of services in rural Maine.
Beginning salary is $65,000 or more depending on years of experience. ILAP offers a base salary increase for staff who speak common client languages and a generous benefits package.
Review of applications will begin on June 14, and will continue until the position is filled. We encourage anyone interested to apply!
ILAP's Spring Appreciation Night Recap
On the evening of May 2nd, we gathered at the Maine MILL (Museum of Innovation, Learning & Labor) in Lewiston for ILAP’s Spring Appreciation Event. Our event theme, Threaded Together, resonated in a space filled with nearly 100 people from across ILAP’s community. Thanks to everyone who joined us and congratulations to our Volunteer & Partner Awardees!
Following the event, we shared spotlights of all our award winners on social media. Head over to ILAP's Facebook and Instagram to check them out.
If you were not able to join us this month, we extend our gratitude for your support and look forward to the fall when we will be gathering again to celebrate ILAP's 30th anniversary!
See more pictures and learn more about our event partners at ilapmaine.org/event-2023.
Local Event Spotlights
June is full of opportunities to connect, learn more, and support important work happening throughout Maine. Here are a few events happening this month:
Access to Justice Award Ceremony
The Muskie Fund for Legal Services is hosting its 26th anniversary Access to Justice Award Ceremony, this year honoring Steve Rowe. All event proceeds support Maine's civil legal aid providers, including ILAP and our partners.
When: June 7th from 5-7pm
Where: Portland Ocean Gateway
Immigration in South Portland, Past and Present Exhibit
Seth Goldstein, who led ILAP's walking tour series in 2021, helped curate an exhibit at the Cushing's Point Museum at Bug Light Park in South Portland where he is the Museum Director. The exhibit dives into the history of immigration in South Portland through four stories.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10am-4pm.
Juneteenth, Pride Month, and More!
Juneteenth is on June 19th and the following day, June 20th, marks World Refugee Day. Check out Maine Inside Out's "Juneteenth: A Change We're Waiting For" in Lewiston, State of Black Maine Symposium in Portland, plus find other events highlighted on Amjambo Africa's website and our Facebook and Instagram pages in the coming weeks.
June is also Pride Month! Equality Maine is keeping tabs on Pride events across the state with their Pride Calendar 2023.
ILAP in the News
The Portland Press Herald ran a six-part series about asylum seekers in Maine this month, called Long Way Home. Read the full series here.
News Center Maine and WGME reported on ILAP's response to the end of Title 42 and implementation of a new asylum ban. Policy Director Lisa Parisio explained the impact of the asylum ban in the Portland Press Herald and Amjambo Africa, reiterating the need for more resources in communities welcoming asylum seekers, rather than policies that deny access to life-saving humanitarian protection.
Maine Public News Connect also overviewed the new asylum ban, along with other important news in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Somali, and English. Find more translated news here!
Earlier this month, the Portland Press Herald featured the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lawsuit, quoting ILAP’s Legal Director at the time the lawsuit was first filed, Phil Mantis, who explained why ICE must be held accountable.