The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center is closed after being vandalized and burglarized over the weekend.
The nonprofit says it plans to reopen Thursday after major damage to its downtown offices at 24 Preble Street.
The incident caused significant damage to the center’s fourth floor, including every office and its Language Lab. As a result, the center said, its first-floor space and the lab are closed all day Tuesday and will not be open on Christmas day.
The Welcome Center says there is not a strong indication at this time that the criminal activity was motivated by it being an immigration focused organization.
They say they’re working to determine what was stolen and repair damaged items and defaced items. The center said that most of its equipment appears to have been left intact. It said the damage requires cleanup and sanitation, and they’re saddened by disruptions to their clients and the community.
The center is affiliated with the Maine Association of Nonprofits and is dedicated to strengthening the immigrant community by helping foreign language speakers learn English and support their economic integration and civic engagement.
