Bill submitted to Congress to make life easier for asylum seekers

Maine Rep. Chelly Pingree re-introduced legislation that would allow asylum seekers to obtain work permits faster. A similar bill was not passed last session, but Pingree hopes things will be different this time around. The edition told in more detail maine public.

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Under current federal law, asylum seekers cannot obtain a work permit until at least 180 days after filing a full asylum application, and the permit must be renewed after two years. Often, due to technical issues and delays in processing requests for work permits, this period of time is much longer.

Pingree's bill would reduce this waiting period to 30 days and eliminate the renewal requirement.

The bill does not change laws or regulations regarding the asylum process, but will have a significant impact on new asylum seekers in Maine, allowing them to find jobs faster, become self-sufficient and contribute to the economy, Pingree says in his the official website.

She said the changes would benefit asylum seekers, local governments trying to support them, and businesses looking for workers.

“Many of these families who want to work want to provide for their families and work in the jobs they already have,” she explained. “So this seems like a simple solution to the problem of how we get more people into work and how we can make sure people can get to work as quickly as possible.”

On the subject: You can now apply for asylum in the US through the CBP One app: how it works

In 2020, the administration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a change that more than doubled the time period that asylum seekers must wait to apply for a work permit, from 150 days to 365 days. In response, Pingree led a group of 50 members of Congress who voiced their strong opposition to Trump's proposed rule. This rule was put into effect in August 2020, but canceled in February 2022.

In May 2022, Pingree supported the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcement that work permits for some applicants would be automatically extended by 540 instead of 180 days.

Back in September 2022, Pingree sent a letter with Rep. Veronica Escobar to the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Plejandro Mallorcas, urging him to use his rule-making powers to reduce work permit waiting times to 30 days and consider other measures to improve processing for petitioners. asylum.

Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, introduced the Senate version of the bill earlier this year, co-sponsored by independent Maine Senator Angus King. The Senate version also reduces the waiting period to 30 days, but does not eliminate the need to renew work permits after two years.

Maine Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors said his group supports the House and Senate bills, saying "getting asylum seekers to work sooner is key to closing gaps in the labor shortage that businesses across Maine have been facing for decades." .

Portland and other communities in Maine are trying to support hundreds of newly arrived asylum seekers.

Earlier this week, Portland officials said the city had taken in more than 550 asylum seekers since January and warned the city was approaching a tipping point where it could no longer provide asylum to those in need.

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Mufalo Cheetham, executive director of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, citing the large number of people who have come to Portland, said the bill was "very welcome."

Cheetam noted that if passed, the bill would help newcomers get back on their feet faster, reduce the burden on aid groups and municipal agencies.

Pingree introduced a similar bill last year, but it failed to move forward. She hopes that this time it could be different.

“This year, with more asylum seekers than before, I may have the opportunity to find more colleagues who are facing the same challenges in their community,” Pingree said.

The bill will need at least some bipartisan support to pass the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

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