Maine Catholic and other religious leaders in Maine condemned President Donald Trump’s ban on some Muslim countries, saying it goes against Christian teachings and what the country stands for. The executive order approved by Trump on Friday has left many refugee families in Maine and their family members seeking entry into the United States “filled […]
immigrants
LePage and Macdonald talk about asylum seekers
LEWISTON —Rising numbers of asylum seekers are putting such a strain on the city budget that Mayor Robert Macdonald spoke Friday with Gov. Paul LePage about what could be done to help. Macdonald, who could not be reached for comment, told Maine Public that the city has the number of asylum seekers more than double […]
Gov. Paul LePage may come to Lewiston to deal with immigration issues
Maine Gov. Paul LePage may meet with Lewiston’s mayor Friday to talk about immigration-related issues. During his weekly radio address Thursday morning with Portland station WGAN, LePage said he got a phone call from Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald letting him know “we have some real issues here.” LePage said he is “going to try to […]
Library debuting book discussion series on 14th Amendment
LEWISTON — The Lewiston Public Library will host a reading and discussion series this fall titled “Violence and Belonging: The 14th Amendment and American Literature.” The series will meet at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month through January, beginning Sept. 6. “Violence and Belonging” is the newest of several book discussion programs […]
Immigrant family finds safety, good schools in Lewiston
LEWISTON — Joao Rodrigues and his children moved to Maine this past winter from Africa. His children are among the city’s 1,374 students in the English Language Learner program. One out of every four Lewiston students is in the ELL program; most are Somali children, but ELL students speak a total of 34 languages. Rodrigues […]
Responsibility is ours alone
I am dismayed by Richard Smith’s letter (April 30) criticizing Lewiston City Councilor Jim Lysen’s support of a reasonable school budget that meets needs and that Lysen is tired of complaints of a growing student population. He claimed that Lysen said “more is a good thing.” I agree fully with Lysen. Smith assumes in his […]
Contributions diminished
I read the article about immigrants in the Sun Journal, “Exhibit reflects 400 years if immigration to Maine” (Sunday, Feb. 14), and was left wondering if any of the English immigrants to Maine had any influence in the development of this state. The Wabanaki had been in Maine for about 1,000 years before Europeans, but […]
Diversity makes U.S. great
There have been many politicians and news broadcasts stating that the American people are against immigration. That is far from the truth. The American people, including the sons and daughters of immigrants, have always welcomed people from other countries, no matter what their religion. Everyone knows immigrants come here searching for a better life. And […]
Let’s take care of our own
Does anybody in City Hall have the honesty to tell Lewiston residents how many taxpayers make up the population of Lewiston? What is the ratio between taxpayers and welfare recipients, or immigrants? Every year, Lewiston taxpayers face tax increases. When you see what’s going on here, it’s a real insult to the homeless population. While […]
Trump has the right idea
I don’t know for sure, but I have heard that some 30 state governors have said they won’t accept Syrian refugees, yet the federal government has final authority. That is asking for trouble. Doesn’t America have enough foreign killers here? What, we need more? I am not sure about Donald Trump, but at least he […]