Senator Alfond condemns LePage’s demonization of refugees

Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland released the following comment in response to Gov. Paul LePage’s demonization of Syrian refugees fleeing war and terrorism to seek a better life in America.

“Gov. LePage’s comments are morally repugnant. Our allies in France, and the world, are still reeling from the terrorist attacks on Paris and the governor is already using those attacks to promote his shallow, anti-immigrant agenda,” Sen. Alfond said. “This kind of brazen opportunism is indefensible. The governor is purposefully conflating terrorists with the people they are terrorizing. Families in Syria face not only a brutal civil war, but the daily threat of attacks from the very same terrorists that targeted Paris. To say those families are not welcome in Maine is unconscionable.”

Despite LePage’s bluster, the governor is powerless to stop the U.S. government from offering Syrian refugees safe haven in Maine. Immigration policy is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Syrian refugees have often spent two years applying for placement in the United States before they ever set foot on American soil.