Portland - Over 50 faith, business, immigrant and advocacy organizations sent letters calling on Maine’s top elected officials to reject the American SAFE Act of 2015, a bill that seeks to block U.S. acceptance of refugees from Syria and Iraq without any demonstrated public safety benefit, as well as other anti-refugee measures.
The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 19, with Rep. Pingree voting against the bill and Rep. Poliquin voting in favor. In addition to the standalone bill, in the coming days Congress will take up an omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government beyond December 11. There is a chance lawmakers will insert a provision into this must-pass legislation to halt Syrian and Iraqi refugee resettlement.
The groups sent a separate letter to Gov. Paul LePage, condemning his recent statements that he would like to block Syrian refugees from entering Maine. That letter states, “Refusing to allow Syrian refugees to enter Maine, or the United States, will not make us safer. This policy would not add security measures; instead it would create a blockade against the most vulnerable people seeking safety, based solely on their country of origin and not on their security risk.”
The groups go on to say, “Refugees and immigrants are enriching our state and our nation. Maine’s residents proudly watched the success of the Lewiston boys’ soccer team; immigrant businesses are revitalizing aging neighborhoods; employers are finding needed skills in our immigrant workforce; and schools are filled with children from around the world creating an enriched learning environment. To ensure Maine’s vitality, we must create and sustain a welcoming community that embraces diversity and shows humanity and respect for those who seek a new life here.”
The full text of the letters and their signatories can be found here.
