Letter: Enable asylum seekers to work extra rapidly

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The BDN’s Editorial Board article relating to asylum seekers arriving in Maine with out federal coordination (“Higher coordination wanted to assist new Mainers”) is spot on. Whereas Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins ( S. 255), together with Rep. Chellie Pingree ( H.R. 1325) have tried to minimize the financial burden on Maine by introducing payments in Washington that might enable asylum seekers to work upon submitting an asylum utility, the Biden administration has accomplished little to champion this essential difficulty on Capitol Hill.  

Permitting asylum seekers to work extra rapidly will enable them to earn revenue, pay taxes and contribute to the Maine financial system, in addition to transfer from the restricted state housing. The state of Maine, Maine’s congressional delegation and Maine’s nonprofit companions have accomplished an admirable job in attempting to assist asylum seekers with little coordination and help from the federal authorities. It’s time for the Biden administration to step up and push this commonsense laws that might enable asylum seekers to hunt the employment they should transfer on from state housing help and fill the open positions so prevalent within the Maine financial system.  

Matthew J. Maiona