The Golden Door: December 2024
ILAP Community Information Session: What Immigrants Need to Know Right Now
ILAP invites immigrant community members to an information session about what non-citizens living in Maine can do to protect themselves and their families right now. Interpretation provided! Registration is not needed.
Who:
Immigrant community members
When:
Wednesday, January 15th
5:30-6:30pm
Where:
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square, Portland
Know Your Rights Resources
It is up to all of us to ensure we are only sharing good and verifiable information with our communities.
ILAP has updated our Know Your Rights page with trusted resources and links to more information. We encourage you to share these resources broadly.
[English] Know Your Rights:
https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights[Français] Connaitre Ses Droits:
https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights-french[Português] Conheça Seus Direitos:
https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights-portuguese[Español] Conozca Sus Derechos:
https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights-spanish[Kreyòl Ayisyen] Konnen Dwa Ou:
https://ilapmaine.org/know-your-rights-haitian-creole
Top Takeaways from Webinar with Community Partners
Earlier this month, ILAP hosted a webinar for community partners called "Preparing Maine’s Immigrant Communities for the Trump Administration: Guidance for Services Providers & Allies." Thank you to the 200+ people who joined us!
ILAP's Executive Director and Co-Legal Directors highlighted important messages and recommendations to share with communities now and related action steps.
Six key takeaways from the webinar:
Nothing has changed yet.
Only share accurate and reliable sources of information.
Non-citizens should only take legal advice from qualified immigration attorneys.
Non-citizens should continue to attend immigration court in order to avoid deportation orders arising from not showing up at a hearing.
Community members should never act as an intermediary for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) or advise noncitizens to affirmatively contact ICE.
While the future is not certain, we can prepare.
ILAP Applauds Leadership from Governor Mills, Representative Pingree, and Senator King in Securing Major Win for Immigrant Workers and Maine’s Businesses
Executive Director Sue Roche presenting Representative Pingree with this year's ILAP Policy Leader Award. Photo credit: Junes Thete of Why Not Productions.
The Biden administration announced on December 10 that it will be finalizing a rule automatically extending work permits for certain noncitizens. This rule addresses longstanding delays in work permit processing at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that result in immigrant workers not having their new work permits in hand before the old ones expire. This has led to Maine workers losing income or jobs altogether and businesses losing their valuable immigrant employees.
Governor Mills, Representative Pingree, and Senator King called on and successfully advocated for the Biden administration to make this urgently needed change to protect Maine’s businesses, workers, families, and economy.
“This final rule is a major win for Maine’s businesses and immigrant workers," said ILAP Policy Director, Lisa Parisio. "ILAP applauds Governor Mills, Representative Pingree, and Senator King for pushing the Biden administration to take this decisive and much-needed action.”
ILAP Submits Public Comment Commending Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services for Proposing Mandatory Training for General Assistance Administrators
ILAP submitted a public comment in response to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) proposed rule that would require mandatory training for municipal General Assistance administrators.
ILAP applauds the move and submitted recommendations on the substance of the training, with an eye towards ensuring administrators can effectively provide trauma-informed and culturally competent assistance and that administrators are not causing harm to people’s immigration cases and long-term chances at safety and stability.
ILAP in the News
Executive Director Sue Roche applauded the selection of Tarlan Ahmadov to head Maine’s new Office of New Americans in this week's press release and reiterated that ILAP is looking forward to supporting the Office's work in Amjambo Africa's article covering the announcement.
In a WMTW interview, Policy Director Lisa Parisio detailed the different legal pathways available for immigrants coming to the U.S. and explained that these narrow pathways leave few options for people who are undocumented to gain legal status.
Lisa also spoke with the Maine Morning Star about the importance of the new rule increasing the automatic extension period of work authorization for immigrants and asylum seekers.
Meet ILAP's New Development Director!
ILAP is excited to welcome Marjorie Hankla as the organization's new Development Director! "As an immigrant from Brazil, I deeply understand the challenges of moving to a new country and am passionate about supporting immigrant communities," she says.
Marjorie previously worked as a labor attorney in Brazil, spent time traveling the world, and most recently served as United Way of Southern Maine's Director of Major Gifts and Stewardship. A native Portuguese speaker and proficient in Spanish, she loves traveling and connecting with people from all walks of life.
She welcomes the opportunity to connect with you! Feel free to reach out to Marjorie by email at mhankla@ilapmaine.org or call 207-699-4407 any time.
ILAP is immensely grateful for our outgoing Development Director, Laura Simocko, who will be staying on part time through the spring!
Invest in ILAP's Continued Work
With the new federal administration on the horizon, we anticipate policies that could significantly impact immigrant communities - some with the potential to take effect immediately. The need for strong advocacy and legal support has never been more critical.
Your gift will ensure we are prepared to address these challenges as they arise. Immigrant families in Maine are relying on us, and we are relying on you.
Through the generous support of the George J. and Theresa L. Cotsirilos Family Foundation, gifts between now and the end of the year will be matched for double the impact. Thank you for your steadfast support!
ICYMI: ILAP's Fall Newsletter
The latest edition of ILAP's Immigrant Beacon print newsletter is out now!
Pro Bono Efforts Make Justice a Reality for Immigrants in Maine
Reflections from Current & Past Immigrant Justice Corps Fellows
And more!
Read the newsletter online and keep an eye on your mailbox. If you don't receive our print newsletter but would like to, you can sign up here!
