PORTLAND, Maine - New figures released by the city of Portland show that nearly 550 asylum seekers would be eligible for General Assistance under a new state law that is scheduled to take effect 90 days after the Maine Legislature adjourns.
The city figures also show that another 123 individuals are currently lacking their required documentation, but because they have been in the United States less than a year, they too would likely be eligible for state or local assistance. Applicants for asylum have up to a year to apply for permanent residence and are considered lawfully present during the process.
Contrary to a published report that suggested that 300 asylum seekers could be ineligible for aid because they have been in the U.S. for one year and have not applied for asylum, a spokeswoman for the city says those numbers were overstated and unsubstantiated. Jessica Grondin says fewer than 100 individuals were found to be in that category.
