As Maine communities see higher costs for asylum seekers, Sen. Susan Collins pushes for reform

As more asylum seekers arrive in Maine, communities are left bearing a lot of new expenses. Since the start of the year, nearly 1,000 people have landed in Portland alone.

With more people coming to the state, that increases costs for things like schools and general assistance.

This is impacting communities like Saco, Brunswick, and especially Portland.

Portland officials are preparing to open the Portland Expo next Monday for asylum-seeking individuals and families.

In 2019, it reportedly cost $400,000 for the emergency shelter alone.

“Is there any kind of federal assistance that might help these communities with those costs?” CBS13 reporter Mal Meyer asked.

“There has been some federal assistance but by and large, the costs fall on the local municipality, and that's why I’m very eager to find a solution,” Maine Senator Susan Collins replied.

Maine Senator Susan Collins sees a way to avoid bigger local budgets.

Senators Collins and Angus King, along with Rep. Chellie Pingree, are supporting legislation to get asylum seekers into the workforce faster.

“That is what they want to do. They want to be able to support themselves and their families,” Collins said, during a theater tour in Augusta on Tuesday.

Asylum seekers wouldn’t have to wait as long to apply for a work permit. Senator Collins says there would still be time to vet applicants, making sure they're not on the terrorist watch list or have a criminal record.

“That to me is the real answer here,” Collins said.

[lastone]

Just ANOTHER Fleecing of Maine 🌲. Extremely discouraged by the "State of MY