PORTLAND – Immigrants, advocates, faith leaders, and the mayors of Portland and Westbrook gathered for a press conference Saturday to call on the state to reject the governor’s proposal to deny General Assistance (GA) to asylum seekers and other immigrants. The event coincided with a national day of action for fair immigration policies.
Gov. LePage is attempting to force towns to deny GA to a broad group of immigrants, many of whom are awaiting asylee status after fleeing violence in their home countries. The attorney general called the proposal unconstitutional and an unfunded mandate, and the Maine Municipal Association has advised towns to ignore the change.
The following quotes can be attributed as noted:
Mayor Michael Brennan of Portland:
"The governor's proposal is unconstitutional, it's reckless, and it's harmful to our people. We're talking about leaving hundreds if not thousands of people homeless and hungry - and the governor has no plan for what to do then."
Suavis Furaha, asylum seeker from Burundi:
“Ending general assistance for immigrants will leave many families homeless. And that will make it harder for us to get on our feet and become helpful members of Maine society.”
Mikara Meng, owner of Mitheap Market:
“New Mainers have a vital role to play in our economy. I am so proud to see immigrants from so many different places helping to build up our city, and I ask the state not to start turning its back on immigrants now.”
Rev. Ellen Schoepf, on behalf of Maine Council of Churches:
"As people of faith, justice for all people is our goal. We are called to help our immigrant brothers and sisters get on their feet and on their way to living full and complete lives. And this is not only our call, it is a moral imperative that we do so."
Andersson Arellano Valencia, on behalf of Centro Latino:
“Across the nation, anti-immigrant groups have used local ordinances to make life hard for immigrant communities. But Maine has always been above all this – we have stood together and said that Maine is a state that treats people fairly, no matter where they were born. We should reject the proposal, because we don’t want to be a state that turns people away at the door just because they weren’t born here.”
