Maine leaders push to extend immigrant, asylum seeker work permits
Three Maine leaders are making a push to extend work authorizations for immigrants and asylum seekers as the federal government works through an extensive backlog in work permit processing.
Employment Authorization Documents, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, provide relief to employers amid nationwide staffing shortages and also provide a lifeline for immigrants, asylum seekers and their families, according to a joint letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and USCIS Director Ur Jaddou.
The letter was signed by Gov. Janet Mills, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.
“The state of Maine, for example, has nearly two jobs open for every job seeker,” they wrote. “Every willing and able worker makes a difference in our communities, especially in essential but understaffed sectors like health care.”
The three are calling on the federal government to codify a temporary rule granting a 540-day automatic extension to expiring work authorizations. The backlog in work permit processing puts hundreds of thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers at risk of losing their ability to work and support themselves, the wrote.
The authorizations, “allow immigrants and asylum seekers to provide for themselves and their loved ones and integrate into their new communities while navigating the adjudication process,” they wrote. “They also provide critical relief to employers.”
As of this fall, 900,000 people are waiting for their initial work authorization application to be processed, and an additional 500,000 are seeking renewals.
An automatic extension of work authorizations, for up to 540 days, would ensure that immigrants and asylum seekers do not have their employment lapse while USCIS works through the backlog, they said.
Mills said earlier this year that Maine needs more workers — including those from other states and countries — to keep up economic growth.
Mills has touted the value of immigrants to Maine’s workforce. Her administration is working with the state's congressional delegation to urge a speed-up in federal work authorizations for people seeking asylum.
Last month, the federal government said it might issue an additional 64,716 guest worker visas this fiscal year, through the the H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visa program, on top of the 66,000 that are available annually — good news for Maine’s hospitality and tourism businesses, provides a source of labor that's critical during their high seasons.
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