BREWER — Catholic Charities Maine has announced it will be closing its Greater Bangor Refugee and Immigration Services office this summer.

The group supports immigrants and refugees and helps them adapt to life in Maine.

“The Greater Bangor community has been welcoming and supportive of refugees and it is because of this that we trust our clients who have resettled here will continue to thrive,” said Catholic Charities Maine Stephen Letourneau in Friday’s announcement. “I cannot thank our community partners enough for their support over these past two-and-a-half years. Together we have witnessed the positive impact our new arrivals have made here, and I know greater Bangor has certainly benefited.”

The office for immigration and refugee services in the Bangor area sits on South Main Street in Brewer. 

Catholic Charities officials said the decision to close is a result of the current federal administration’s suspension of refugee resettlement, along with a loss of federal funds and a low amount of refugee clients in the Bangor area.

“Families came to the United States very hopeful,” said Charles Mugabe, director of migration for Catholic Charities Maine. “Hoping to start a new life, hoping to receive assistance while they acclimate. But unfortunately, it has presented itself to be a very challenging time.”

President Donald Trump’s executive order called for the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admission Program in January.

“The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees,” the executive order from January 20 reads, in part. “This order suspends the USRAP until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.” 

According to Catholic Charities Maine, there have been no new arrivals since Jan. 13.

“That executive order effectively terminated the refugee arrivals to the United States or paused it,” said Mugabe. “What we’re seeing is that there have not been any arrivals since January and all of those who were scheduled to arrive are no longer on schedule to travel.”

Mugabe said their Southern Maine office for refugee services will remain open, and no other programs in the Bangor area will be affected.

“We remain hopeful for Maine,” said Mugabe. “We remain hopeful for our families, and we remain very grateful for Bangor for having provided a place, a home, for the immigrants that arrived, but also for us while we were there. And so, Catholic Charities will continue to work there in other ways.” 

The Greater Bangor office will officially close on June 30.

“It’s such a difficult decision, particularly because Bangor is our newest operation,” said Mugabe. “We started Bangor resettlement in 2022. Since then, we’ve placed more than 270 families in the Bangor areas that we’ve served.”

Mugabe said there are 20 individuals in the Bangor area in need of services, and that Catholic Charities Maine is working with community partners to get them the help they need.

“Given that we’re closing, we have already had some communications with community partners,” said Mugabe. “And we’re doing a little bit more follow-ups to ensure that there is a smooth transition of our families to some of these community partners so there isn’t any gap.” 

Mugabe said in their 2024 Fiscal Year, Catholic Charities Maine helped upwards of 500 individuals.