Immigrants in Maine

A housing forum in Portland this week examined the challenges and opportunities for immigrants beyond Maine's largest cities.

Abdullahi Ali is part of a global trend of displaced Somalis returning home to seek public office.

The money comes from a federal program aimed at helping cities and groups across the country supporting large numbers of immigrants.

The Afghan Adjustment Act and Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act have been introduced in Congress but remain stalled. The Refugee Protection Act will be reintroduced.

But the authors said those contributions - in Maine and across the country - would be greater if undocumented immigrations had access to work authorization and legal status.

Residents said they're concerned about the proliferation of guns in the community, and would like to bolster support services for youth and families.

The civil rights complaint alleges Andrew and Ranada Pinkham "relentlessly targeted" a Congolese family that moved in next door in April.

Last weekend, a Somali-American teenager was found dead after police responded to a 911 call of shots fired, part of a broader trend of increased gun violence in the area.

Farooq Safi is among hundreds of pilots and other aviation professionals who've resettled in the U.S. after the Taliban stormed back to power in 2021.

Even as many churches in Maine and across the country face declining membership, the state has a growing number of churches run by and serving African immigrant communities.