Exodus to the Pine Tree State
Over continents and years, through danger and illness, thousands of African asylum seekers, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, have made their way to Maine. They tell harrowing stories of peril in their home countries and on their way to the United States, and say they came to Maine hearing they would…
Welcome to safety land
Asylum seekers who endured perils to get here say they were drawn to Maine because of its peacefulness, resources and community. Some say they learned of Maine on their long journeys away from their homelands, while others found it doing online research or knew people from home who were already here.
Wandering a new world
Asylum seekers new to Portland spend much time navigating red tape and waiting: for hearings, work permits, English classes and a place to call home.
Life on hold
Many people who arrived in Maine long before the current wave of asylum seekers are still waiting for their cases to be heard – and success is not at all guaranteed. The waiting can mean years of anxiety, depression and uncertainty.
What can Maine do?
State leaders and residents are far from unified on how much Maine can afford to spend to support asylum seekers – and on how much responsibility it has to do so.
They made it here
Slowly and painstakingly, African asylum seekers build new lives in Maine, and often find ways to help those who arrive after them.
6 takeaways from our ‘Long Way Home’ series
In “Long Way Home,” the Portland Press Herald told the story of the large influx of asylum seekers arriving in Maine in recent years. Reporters and photographers spent several months learning why people fled their homelands – mostly in Central Africa – and the arduous journeys they made to Maine, many thousands of miles from…
In photos: View some of the best images from ‘Long Way Home’
In ‘Long Way Home,’ Press Herald reporters and photographers told the story of the large influx of asylum seekers arriving in Maine in recent years, fleeing their homelands and embarking on dangerous journeys to make a new life in Maine.
Watch: Newsroom Live: Long Way Home
This important virtual conversation took place on Tuesday, May 30.
About the series
A large wave of asylum seekers sought refuge in Maine in 2019, and the state is seeing many more arrive this year. Over 1,000 asylum seekers have come to Portland since January. The city’s shelters are full, temporary housing fills up immediately, and migrants are being put up in local hotels as the region’s ability to assist them has reached an inflection point. The city of Portland, which has long had a policy of welcoming all newcomers, has advised organizations to stop sending asylum-seeking families here because there is nowhere to house them.Behind this crisis are human lives and powerful human stories – people fleeing from dangerous places and life-threatening situations. Why do they leave the lands where they grew up, enduring treacherous journeys for a chance to start anew? Why do they choose to come to Maine? What are their experiences when they arrive? And what is the state’s capacity and responsibility to assist?
The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram spent several months trying to answer these questions. Six reporters and two photographers – aided by interpreters we hired – spent countless hours with people attempting to settle here and build new lives. Many other journalists – photographers, editors and designers among them – contributed. The result is the six-part series “Long Way Home.”
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