During this presidential election season, some truly awful anti-immigrant rhetoric has grabbed the headlines. Regardless of political leanings, it is important for all Mainers to recognize what an essential role immigrants, including asylum seekers, play in helping our community and economy thrive in the future.

The state’s workforce shortage has been well documented. Just last month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce categorized Maine’s workforce shortage as “Most Severe,” with 42 available workers for every 100 open jobs. And given the aging population and declining birth rates, that’s not likely to change.

The state’s 10-year economic development strategy, outlined in 2019, identified the need to add 75,000 individuals to Maine’s workforce by 2030. Policy makers and economists alike have stated it repeatedly and unequivocally: in-migration and immigration are critical to meet the state’s workforce needs.

Immigrants who are coming to Maine are eager to join our labor force. We see it every day at Hope Acts, as we work to help new Mainers access the resources they need to successfully transition to a new life here. We are constantly asked, “When can I work? Where can I work? Why can’t I work?” They are very, very eager to join our labor force.

There are so many obstacles. Federal law prohibits most asylum seekers, who are legally present immigrants, from legally working in the United States for at least six months after applying for asylum. Members of Maine’s congressional delegation have expressed support of a shortened wait time for asylum seekers to receive their work permits, with Rep. Pingree championing the most comprehensive reforms through the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act.

Once immigrants do receive work permits, they work in almost every sector of Maine’s economy. Like many past generations of immigrants, they often work at more than one job and take classes as they restart their lives in Maine. A report released in April by the American Immigration Council and the University of Southern Maine offered a snapshot of the economic impact that new Mainers bring, which counters some of the damaging false narratives about immigrants now circling. The report, of new Americans in Androscoggin County, showed that immigrants are poised to contribute to the county’s economy across the skills spectrum. In 2019, 27.6% of immigrants held a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 22.3% of their U.S.-born counterparts. In that same year, 24.7% of immigrants had less than a high school education, compared to 9.8% of U.S.-born residents, uniquely positioning immigrants to fill jobs with and without degree requirements.

Here at Hope Acts, we believe immigrants and asylum seekers deserve an opportunity to thrive in the U.S. And over the past 10 years, we’ve been working to help them access the resources they need to successfully transition to a new life here. Today that includes a wide array of programs. Just in the past year, we have submitted work permit applications for 1,200 people, completed asylum applications for 309 people through our attorney-supervised asylum clinic and launched a digital education program. We’ve also helped more than 154 adults and children move into permanent housing. In addition to all of that, we held hundreds of other meetings, helping people with housing, immigration-related issues and so much more.

We hope that all Mainers can work toward a future where immigrants are welcomed and empowered socially, economically, physically and spiritually. Our state’s future depends on it.