History of Somalis in Maine

The letter angered some people and prompted some community leaders and residents to speak out against the mayor, drawing national attention.

[5] In January 2003, a small white supremacist group demonstrated in Lewiston in support of the mayor, prompting a simultaneous counter-demonstration of about 4,000 people at Bates College and the organization of the "Many and One Coalition".

[7] In January 2009, Newsweek associated a drop in crime rate, soaring income per capita and increased business activity in Lewiston with recent immigration to the town by Somalis.

[8] In June 2011, the Lewiston Sun Journal also noted the growing number of Somali recent immigrants earning high school diplomas, with more enrolling in local community colleges.

[9][10] In 2015, immigrants from Somalia also led Lewiston High School's Blue Devils boys soccer team to win the state championships under coach Mike McGraw.

[17] In 2010, several Somali immigrants, now citizens of the United States and residents of Portland, filed to run for the Maine Legislature.

Maine Republican senator Susan Collins commented, "Mr. Trump's statements disparaging immigrants who have come to this country legally are particularly unhelpful.

"[19][20] Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election of Donald Trump, the federal government released Executive Order 13780, a three-month travel restriction against citizens of six Muslim-majority countries, including Somalia.

[21] Somalis and other immigrants in Lewiston as well as local residents worried that the temporary decision had put a strain on communal living.