Maine Representative Chellie Pingree Advocates for Bipartisan Immigration Reform.
Maine’s U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree expressed her hope that Congress will restart bipartisan immigration reform discussions in the upcoming session. In a statement to the Maine Morning Star, she emphasized, “Democrats and Republicans alike agree the border is a serious issue and must be urgently addressed.” Although Pingree had concerns about a recent bipartisan border security bill, she appreciated the effort to find a compromise.
After months of negotiations, the bipartisan deal collapsed shortly after its introduction. However, Pingree believes the policy proposals within that deal could serve as a foundation for reform in 2025.
Pingree has represented southern Maine in the U.S. House since 2009. She will face two challengers in the November 5 election: Republican Ron Russell and independent Ethan Alcorn.
The Maine Morning Star asked candidates for the 1st District U.S. House seat if they supported the policies in the failed bipartisan deal. They specifically inquired about three key points: creating a procedure to temporarily close the border during peak migrant activity, increasing funding for border personnel and capabilities, and shortening the wait time for asylum seekers to obtain work permits.
Pingree’s Position on Immigration Reform
Pingree initially supported the immigration reform negotiated by a bipartisan group, which included foreign aid. However, Republican support waned after former President Donald Trump opposed the package, claiming it would benefit President Joe Biden politically.
“Let’s be clear,” Pingree stated. “The bipartisan border bill was killed on Donald Trump’s orders because he cares more about campaigning on chaos than supporting solutions that help America.”
Later, the immigration reforms were considered as a standalone Senate bill but failed to gain sufficient support.
Challengers’ Stances
Ethan Alcorn did not state whether he would have supported the bipartisan border security legislation or its three main components. In contrast, Ron Russell openly opposed the legislation.
In response to inquiries about his stance, Alcorn commented, “We need some immigration, just not so much that we can’t afford to pay for them.” He previously indicated a desire for Congress to tighten border security but emphasized, “more importantly, stop handing out everything at taxpayers’ expense. It sends the wrong signal.”
Russell expressed support for H.R. 2, a bill that aligns with Trump-era immigration policies. This legislation would continue construction of the border wall, reduce funding for nonprofits assisting migrants, increase staffing for Border Patrol agents, and limit humanitarian parole programs used by the Biden administration.
Details of the Bipartisan Deal
The bipartisan package included a provision allowing the Secretary of Homeland Security to close the border during peak activity. If over 4,000 migrant encounters occurred in a week, the Secretary could opt to shut down the border. A complete closure would be mandated if encounters exceeded 5,000 in the same timeframe.
Russell believes this policy does not go far enough. “The border should be shut down at illegal crossing points now, not just during particularly active times,” he stated. “We should not allow any illegal immigrants to cross any borders we have.”
The bipartisan plan proposed $20.23 billion for border security, focusing on increasing personnel and capacity. Russell indicated support for funding more officers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, as well as additional immigration judges to expedite asylum processes.
Another aspect of the bipartisan deal involved shortening the timeline for asylum seekers to receive work permits. Pingree has also worked on legislation to address this issue. Her bill aims to reduce the waiting period from 180 days to 30 days. Senators Susan Collins (Republican) and Angus King (independent) from Maine have suggested similar legislation, requiring asylum seekers to enter through official ports of entry.
This version of the proposal is favored by many immigrant rights groups in Maine. Pingree believes shortening the waiting period would benefit both asylum seekers and local economies, particularly in regions like Maine facing workforce shortages.
“While any legislation related to immigration faces challenges in Congress, I remain committed to pushing for the common sense solutions in my bill,” Pingree said. “I believe momentum will continue to grow amid a growing bipartisan recognition of the need to address nationwide labor shortages.”
Challengers’ Views on Work Permits
Alcorn did not indicate whether he would support the reduced work permit waiting period. Russell, however, rejected the measure, calling it “closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.” He argued that the issue arose from allowing asylum seekers to wait for their court appearances in the U.S., which can be scheduled years after their claims.
Russell insisted that borders should be closed and all asylum seekers held outside the country, stating, “This will fix the problem.”
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