Providing help and creating hope in Maine
Portland, ME -- Catholic Charities Maine (CCM) has welcomed the first arrival from Afghanistan
as part of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration’s (PRM)
Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program. One person with family ties arrived Thursday
and has been reunited with family in Cumberland County. CCM anticipates three additional
families, totaling 11 people in the coming week. These arrivals all have family ties in Cumberland
County.
Catholic Charities Maine will facilitate APA program participants resettlement in Maine with
services including housing, education, and employment support.
“We’re excited to be able to welcome our first arrivals from Afghanistan to Maine. Their journey
has not been an easy one, so we are heartened by the outpouring of support from the
community demonstrating why Maine truly is such a great place to call home,” says Hannah
DeAngelis, Director of Refugee & Immigration Services at Catholic Charities Maine.
PLEASE NOTE: our media policies in place to protect client privacy and help ensure their safety:
● CCM will not publicize airport arrivals of any clients from Afghanistan.
● CCM will not coordinate media interviews with new client arrivals from Afghanistan
during the initial 90 day resettlement period.
These policies are in keeping with our standard protocol for welcoming refugees and maintaining
client confidentiality.
Please recognize that our responsibility is to provide a safe resettlement experience. Many of the
persons we resettle have experienced trauma and still have family remaining in Afghanistan
whose safety may be jeopardized by a family member speaking out or appearing on camera/in
print. With the Internet, media stories are no longer just local, but can have global reach and
implications.
It is not our intention to limit media coverage of what we believe is an important and critical role
our Agency plays in welcoming a vulnerable population and aiding in a humanitarian crisis. Our
Refugee & Immigration Services staff remain available for interviews to answer any questions and share
updates on this evolving story.
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Media Contact: Kathy Mockler, Communications Director (207) 650-0420
© 2024 Catholic Charities Maine
