What is naturalization?About Vietnam Quang Nguyen had a rather inauspicious arrival in the United States, especially for a young man who, 10 years later, is on track to fulfill his goal to become a millionaire. In August 2007, Nguyen traveled alone and with limited English skills from Vietnam to Portland. Just 18 at the time, […]
from away
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The temporary worker: This cook supports his family – and helps neighbors – back home
What is an H-2B visa?About Jamaica WELLS — Leanord Thompson sends three-quarters of his paycheck home to Savanna-la-Mar, a small town on Jamaica’s southwest coast. The money supports his wife and five young daughters and helps send his neighbors’ children to school. Some goes to finish a home he’s building for his family. A little […]
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The specialty worker: This scientist temporarily leaves a happy life to seize a rare opportunity
What is an H-1B visa?About the UK Jacqueline White uprooted her life in England in January and moved across the North Atlantic to Mount Desert Island. The idea of moving to the small, remote community in Maine gave her pause, and so did the prospect of leaving her partner, her home and her job. But […]
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The asylee: He fled the Congo after being tortured and threatened with death
What is asylum?About the Congo His pregnant wife had already fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo when six armed men caught up to Marcel Kabongo Mafuku. They beat him and tortured him using a screwdriver, leaving Mafuku with internal injuries that would go untreated for months. They stopped torturing him long enough for one […]
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The child alone: A teenager arrives with no guardian, no resources and no plan
Who are special minors?About Burundi When the young woman talks about her birthplace in Burundi, she twists her fingers in a delicate silver chain around her neck. The simple necklace once belonged to her mother, who died when the woman was a baby. She was placed in the care of a relative in Burundi and […]
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The migrant worker: Eager to earn a steady seasonal income, then home to Jamaica
What is a migrant worker?About Jamaica TURNER — Steve Scott stands near the top of a ladder, his head as high as the apple tree he is quickly clearing of fruit. As he reaches to his left to palm two apples, he’s already looking to his right for the next one. He moves swiftly up […]
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The military aide: He risked his life to work for the U.S. government in Iraq
What’s a special immigrant visa?About Iraq Mahmood will never forget the date: April 6, 2017. He had spent more than two years in the application process for a special immigrant visa, which is available to Iraqi and Afghan citizens who worked for the United States government in their home countries. Mahmood’s experience as a translator […]
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The student: He came to attend high school, and marvels at all that is America
What is a student visa?About China SACO — Jingqi Tu is far from home. The 15-year-old Beijing native plans to spend the next four years in Maine, studying at Thornton Academy. It’s the best way, he says, to improve his English and get into an American college. “I come here to study. It’s very good […]
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The undocumented immigrant: This man came here on a tourist visa 15 years ago and never left
Who is undocumented?About El Salvador He has been living and working in southern Maine for more than a decade. He pays taxes. He goes to church. But he has no legal immigration status – no citizenship, no valid visa, no green card. And that means he is constantly at risk of being discovered and removed. […]
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The childhood arrival: She has just become a nurse, but now politics has upended her world
What is DACA?About the West Indies Sophia studied for her nursing board exam all summer long. After graduating from college in May, the 23-year-old woman returned to her family’s home in Maine. Her summer days were dominated by a prep course and practice tests. A passing score on her licensing exam would mean she could […]