Both of Maine’s senators and many others denounced President Donald Trump’s use of a vulgar slur while describing immigration from Haiti and Africa. Participants in a private White House session with members of Congress said Thursday that Trump repeatedly called African nations “shithole countries” during the meeting, an assertion that Trump denied in a vague […]
immigration
Posted inNation / World
Donald Trump goes profane, denigrates Africa, Haiti in immigration discussion
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump grew frustrated with lawmakers Thursday in the Oval Office when they floated restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, according to two people briefed on the meeting. “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” […]
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Posted inBusiness
Immigration agents target 7-Eleven stores in nationwide sweep
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at dozens of 7-Eleven stores before dawn Wednesday to interview employees and deliver audit notifications, carrying out what the agency said was the largest operation targeting an employer since President Donald Trump took office. ICE said its agents targeted 98 stores and made 21 arrests, describing the […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Try for real immigration law reform
The U.S. Congress has kicked the federal budget “down the road” once again, extending a Dec. 22, 2017, deadline into the New Year’s date of Jan. 19. Making that deadline will likely be another “Perils of Pauline” spectacle, with many contentious issues requiring resolution, all with the expected threats of “shutting down the government.” One […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
'Dreamers' are people, not bargaining chips
The following appeared in Friday’s Washington Post: After all of President Donald Trump’s bluster about his “great love” for “dreamers,” brought to this country as children through no fault of their own, it turns out he’s content to use them as leverage in a high-stakes game of political horse-trading. Trump seems willing to strip them […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Textile program weaves new Mainers into workforce
WESTBROOK — A city business is partnering with Portland Adult Education and Southern Maine Community College to not only create American-made products, but to train immigrants to be part of the American workforce. A class of eight stitchers graduated Dec. 15 from a program facilitated by Dory Richards Waxman, owner of Old Port Wool & […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Oxford Hills
Fryeburg farm fined for immigration rule violations
FRYEBURG — The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with a local vegetable farm that willfully violated terms of a nonimmigrant visa program, according to the Labor Department. Under the agreement, Green Thumb Farms has paid $10,164 in penalties to the department and has agreed to comply with the law, applicable regulations and the […]
Posted inMaine
Attorney alleges racial profiling by state police in Portland traffic stop
Warning: This video includes graphic language The attorney for a man charged with illegally re-entering the United States presented police video recordings in federal court Wednesday that he says show a state trooper’s decision to stop and detain a van filled with Spanish-speaking men on Interstate 295 in Portland was a case of racial profiling […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poliquin urges action to aid 'Dreamers' this month
Congress should approve legislation this month to deal with the undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children and grew up in America, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin said Tuesday. The 2nd District Republican joined 33 GOP House members in a joint letter seeking action on the controversial issue by year’s end. “While we […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bates College students tell Susan Collins to fight for 'Dreamers'
LEWISTON — Four Bates College students sat beside the counter in U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office Monday as part of nationwide effort to press members of Congress to approve legal status to young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. “We’re not too threatening,” senior Courtney Foster said. As junior Haley Crim and […]