In Canada, asylum seekers can ask for work permits when they submit their initial asylum claims — and if the claims are deemed eligible, after medical screenings, they can get work permits quickly.

Unfortunately, asylum policy is radically different in the U.S. and here in Maine, despite efforts for years running on the part of Maine’s entire congressional delegation — including Republican Sen. Susan Collins — all of whom have sought reform to restrictive asylum seekers’ legal work qualification immigration laws which, if enacted, would lift a huge financial burden currently upon Maine taxpayers, especially property owners in Maine’s largest cities with the largest populations of asylees.

Now that the long-threatened Draconian Trump ‘47’ policies of mass asylum seekers deportations of that vulnerable community is imminent, it is incumbent upon lawmakers in Maine and Washington, D.C. to effect work permit reforms quickly as a common-sense measure of expediency.

Jon St. Laurent, North Windham