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Portland asylum seekers: What we know so far, and the answers we still seek

As city leaders work to help the nearly 300 asylum seekers who have arrived in Portland, NEWS CENTER Maine is getting answers to your questions.

Samantha York (NEWS CENTER Maine)

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Published: 7:16 PM EDT June 20, 2019
Updated: 7:16 PM EDT June 20, 2019

Sunday marks two weeks since the first group of asylum seekers unloaded from buses into Maine’s largest city.

In the days that followed, dozens of families – totaling nearly 300 people – arrived as well; creating what city leaders called an ‘emergency situation’.

Due to lack of space at the local homeless shelters, the city created a make-shift shelter at the Portland Expo. The families have been packed into the gymnasium full of cots, tables and chairs, children’s toys, medical staff and volunteers since last week.

As city officials work to keep everyone comfortable, many things like the cost to the city and where these families will be housed while they seek asylum is still up in the air.

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