The Maine Department of Labor today sent a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCS) requessting a waiver from provisions under the Immigration and Nationality Act that prohibits an applicant for asylum from being eligible to seek employment in the US for 180 days after the applicant has filed their initial asylum claim.

The request is the result of a resolve passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Janet T. Mills directing the Maine Department of Labor to seek such a waiver.

The letter signed by Laura A. Fortman, Commissioner of Labor, says in part:

“As you may be aware, like many states across the nation, Maine has experienced multiple surges of individuals seeking asylum.  While Maine is a welcoming state, these surges are straining municipal and state budgets and stretching already too scarce housing resources even thinner….

Federal constraints-namely the restriction on the ability to more immediate work..forces the State and municipalities to confront the tremendous hardship i- a hardship that the State believes is not necessary given the strong desire that people seeking asylum have to work and contribute to our society.

In the meantime, the State will continue to evaluate what options it may take to integrate people seeking asylum into our communities and our workforce given existing Federal constraints…..”