My parents immigrated to the United States from Russia. My father arrived in 1923, my mother in 1921. He was 22 and she was 17. Neither spoke English. Dad was a shoemaker. Dad left Russia with two friends to avoid being drafted into the czar’s army. My mother left with her mother and sister to […]
immigration
Posted inNation / World
Fearing a worker shortage, farmers push back on immigration
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The head of Bethel Heights Vineyard looked out over the 100 acres of vines her crew of 20 Mexicans had just finished pruning, worried about what will happen if the Trump administration presses ahead with its crackdown on immigrants. From tending the plants to harvesting the grapes, it takes skill and […]
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Posted inMaine
Maine joins attorneys general from 16 states, DC fight travel ban appeal
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The top attorneys from 16 states and the District of Columbia say President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban would hurt their higher education and medical institutions and have a chilling effect on tourism. The attorneys general urged the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a brief Wednesday to uphold a […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
How a community changed by refugees came to embrace Trump
Richard Rodrigue, right, embraces his daughter Stephanie, 17, after she walked the runway in her high school’s pre-prom fashion show in Lewiston on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Rodrigue is proud his daughter is part of a diverse school whose students speak dozens of languages, and hail from dozens of nations. Though he is conflicted; “There’s […]
Posted inNation / World
Donald Trump to sign order targeting high-skilled worker visa program
In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump holds up Green Bay Packers jersey given to him by House Speaker Paul Ryan at a rally in West Allis, Wis. President Donald Trump heads to Ryan’s congressional district in Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, facing low approval ratings and in the wake of […]
Posted inMaine
Kennebec County to debate immigration enforcement
AUGUSTA — The Kennebec County Commissioners will hear a series of policy proposals set to separate county law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. The Kennebec Journal reports the nine proposals include requiring a judicial warrant before detaining anyone at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A representative of the Maine People’s Alliance, who […]
Posted inMaine
AG Janet Mills warns against ICE arrests at Maine courthouses
AUGUSTA — Maine’s top prosecutor has urged the head of Homeland Security to stop arresting immigrants in and around Maine courthouses. Attorney General Janet Mills warned that “the recent action of ICE agents at the Cumberland County Courthouse will have an unnecessary chilling effect on our efforts to obtain the cooperation of victims and our […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web, Uncategorized
2 federal judges find new Trump travel ban discriminatory
GREENBELT, Md. — Rejecting arguments from the government that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was substantially different from the first one, judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked the executive order from taking effect as scheduled on Thursday, using the president’s own words as evidence that the order discriminates against Muslims. The rulings in Hawaii […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web, Uncategorized
Democratic AGs step up legal fight against Trump travel ban
SEATTLE — In stepping up legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, Democratic attorneys general are trying to use the court system to thwart the executive branch in the same way their GOP counterparts did under President Barack Obama. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Thursday he was asking a federal judge […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Trump's new travel ban draws mixed reaction from Maine lawmakers
President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban signed Monday drew praise from one of Maine’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives, scorn from the other and sharp words from U.S. Sen. Angus King. King, an independent, said the president’s temporary travel ban, set to take effect in 10 days, will weaken the country’s security rather […]