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At the ST Johnsbury, welcome center benches and flyers, directing people where to go have been greeting an influx of people who have been dropped off here in recent days, often as part of *** leg on *** long journey. Most everybody who has come has had some skill that they can offer. They want to work, they want to be employed, they want to feel safe. They want to be in *** community. Libby Hill House who works with the Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seekers Assistance Network is talking about asylum seekers who are brought to the ST Johnsbury Welcome center by us border patrol after illegally crossing into the US from Canada to seek refuge on Thursday. We’re told two adults and *** child from Haiti were dropped off here hoping to eventually make their way down to Florida. It’s not going away soon. ST Johnsbury police chief, Timothy Page is one of many community members concerned about the asylum seekers well being, which is why he’s working with local state and federal agencies to figure out *** network of resources available to help the people who arrive in Vermont. I just know the border patrol is *** little overwhelmed. And so I thought if I could get state agencies motivated to help, that maybe we could help relieve some of that burden people coming across. Recently, the situation has caught the attention of elected officials like Governor Phil Scott and Senator Peter Welch. Governor Scott says that he’s collaborating with the Department of Public Safety and other agencies to figure out the best solution. Senator Welch is aware of the situation too. Saying in part, it’s clear our immigration system needs significant reform to expand paths for safe and legal migration and help families thrive when they arrive in the US. I’m committed to working alongside my colleagues, Republican and Democrat to build an immigration system that helps families seeking asylum and opportunity in the United States and protects the integrity of our borders here in ST Johnsbury. Local leaders say there’s *** need for volunteers to help drive people to bigger bus hubs like White River junction or Montpelier and people willing to help with lodging, cooking or translating. And I’m just trying to help get help all *** part of this big rolling ball and trying to get things organized so that nobody is left standing in the dark and the cold outside the welcome center, all to make sure the people arriving here truly feel welcome in ST John’s Barry.

Asylum seekers share their stories and hopes for the future at an event in Freeport

A discussion panel hosted by Immigrant Welcome Center of Greater Portland shed light on why asylum seekers want to call Maine home

The Maine Immigrant Welcome Center of Greater Portland hosted a discussion panel on Tuesday where six asylum seekers from different countries shared their stories and hope for the future.More than 1,100 asylum seekers have arrived in the Portland area since the start of the year, all with the common goal of creating a safe home in Maine. “In detention, they asked me where’d you like to go and then we told them we’d like to go in Maine,” said Lydia Antonio, an asylum seeker from Angola.Many advocates believe that asylum seekers are the key to solving Maine’s workforce shortage and state representatives are lobbying for shorter waiting periods for their work permits. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present you tomorrow’s nurses, engineers and accountants of business,” said event organizer Reza Jalali. “In a state with low birthrate and declining population, they are our future workforce.” Obtaining asylum can be a lengthy process, taking anywhere from two to eight years. While they wait, asylum seekers are building communities here and taking the opportunities that come their way.”So far, Maine has been really good to us,” said Anna, an asylum seeker from Namibia, who declined to share her last name. “It’s treated us so good. Although we all struggle with a lack of housing at the moment, opportunities are not few. Most of us have our work permits and we’ll soon be contributing to the economy of Maine.”

The Maine Immigrant Welcome Center of Greater Portland hosted a discussion panel on Tuesday where six asylum seekers from different countries shared their stories and hope for the future.

More than 1,100 asylum seekers have arrived in the Portland area since the start of the year, all with the common goal of creating a safe home in Maine.

“In detention, they asked me where’d you like to go and then we told them we’d like to go in Maine,” said Lydia Antonio, an asylum seeker from Angola.

Many advocates believe that asylum seekers are the key to solving Maine’s workforce shortage and state representatives are lobbying for shorter waiting periods for their work permits.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present you tomorrow’s nurses, engineers and accountants of business,” said event organizer Reza Jalali. “In a state with low birthrate and declining population, they are our future workforce.”

Obtaining asylum can be a lengthy process, taking anywhere from two to eight years. While they wait, asylum seekers are building communities here and taking the opportunities that come their way.

“So far, Maine has been really good to us,” said Anna, an asylum seeker from Namibia, who declined to share her last name. “It’s treated us so good. Although we all struggle with a lack of housing at the moment, opportunities are not few. Most of us have our work permits and we’ll soon be contributing to the economy of Maine.”