"Portland Urges Gov. Mills: House Asylum Seekers at Unity College or Deploy National Guard"
Portland officials have requested support from Governor Janet Mills to house up to 600 asylum seekers at Unity College or to call in the National Guard to set up a new emergency shelter. The proposal from the Greater Portland Council of Governments suggests using the largely unused facilities at Unity College as transitional housing. The approval and funding for the proposal are uncertain, as is the potential use of the National Guard. The request comes as Portland has seen an influx of over 1,540 asylum seekers since January 1, leaving local officials in need of long-term housing solutions.