Learn More About the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program

APA Program Updates

Week of November 8th:

• To date we have resettled 68 arrivals through the APA program
• Availability of affordable housing remains a challenge. As we continue to build connections with landlords we appreciate the opportunity to connect with anyone who may be able to offer affordable apartment rentals in Southern Maine.
• Our staff is coordinating with Afghan community leaders to ensure that new arrivals are connected to the wider community and we also connect them with legal support through ILAP so that they can apply for permanent legal status
• As the temperature drops, we are working to ensure all families have warm clothes and other seasonal needs met and appreciate all the outpouring of support from the Community

Week of October 4th:

While no arrivals have come this week, preparations to date include:

• Working to build relationships with landlords and property management companies offering affordable housing with access to necessary resources in preparation to meet the needs for new arrivals.
• Welcoming walk-ins who are current members of Maine’s Afghan communities looking for information on how they can support family members still in Afghanistan or having fled to another country, sharing the most up-to-date information and connecting them with other local service providers.
• Partnering with Immigration Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) and representatives of Maine’s Afghan community, to host an immigration legal workshop to provide an overview of the application process for Humanitarian Parole. View more information here.
• Working to allocate necessary staff and resources to build capacities for serving arrivals who will be coming under a new legal status and identifying community partners and service providers to assist in continue to meet the needs of new arrivals that extend beyond the scope of our own resources.
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Afghans being resettled in Maine?

Afghans resettled under the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program do not hold Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) nor are they classified as refugees. They are persons who may have worked for a non-governmental organization, in the media, or for a non-profit whose alliance with the United States makes it too dangerous for them to remain in Afghanistan. 

While they will have to apply for asylum, they differ from traditional asylum seekers in that they will arrive with work authorization papers and have completed a medical screening at one of the U.S. military bases.

How many people from Afghanistan will be resettled in Maine?

Catholic Charities Maine expects to resettle 67-100 people from Afghanistan under the APA program through March 2022.

The number of Afghan arrivals with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status is more difficult to predict and is unknown at this time.

The United States overall has approved 50,000 people from Afghanistan for resettlement through March 2022.  Once resettled in the United States, any citizen is free to move as they wish i.e. to reunite with family or pursue career opportunities.

What services will Catholic Charities provide through the APA program?

Catholic Charities will provide 90 days of services to APA program participants to facilitate their resettlement in Maine, including housing, education, employment support along with providing cultural orientation.

Individuals arriving as SIVs will be entitled to the same range of services as refugees, which are similar to those available to APAs but have an eligibility period of 5 years rather than 90 days.

When will the people from Afghanistan arrive in Maine?

At this time CCM has not been given a projected timeline for arrivals.  Typically CCM is notified 10 days in advance of refugee arrivals. 

Where will the people from Afghanistan be resettled in Maine?

CCM expects to resettle Afghanistan arrivals in areas with affordable housing, job opportunities, public transportation and access to English language education. . For these reasons, Biddeford, Westbrook, Lewiston/Auburn and Augusta are cities we are exploring for Afghan arrivals.

How many people from Afghanistan are currently living in Maine?

While CCM has no way of knowing who from Afghanistan currently resides in Maine, the Agency has resettled 105 refugees from Afghanistan since 2013.