- [SW News]( Fox News) Maine Looks Like Home to Somali Immigrants
: Posted on 2 Aug 2002
LEWISTON, Maine — Once known for
its lobsters, quaint towns and a population of reclusive New England
Yankees, Maine has become the bastion of diversity.
Suddenly and almost inexplicably, Lewiston,
located in central Maine, has become a favorite destination for
immigrants from Somalia.
"One day they weren't around. They came --
next day they all over the place," a local resident said.
"It was quite a shock really. Now you see them everywhere around
here."
Somalia is mostly hot while Maine is mostly cold.
Somalia is a desert, and Maine is blanketed with trees. Somalia's
population is 99 percent black. Maine's is 97 percent white. In fact,
Maine is the second whitest state in the country.
Starting in 1996, the U.S. began resettling more
than 5,000 Somali refugees per year, mostly in metropolitan areas.
Then a few came to Maine and liked it.
The word got out to their friends, family, and
acquaintances who expanded their outreach to members of the Somali
communities who lived in Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio and Minneapolis.
More than 1,600 Somalis moved to Maine last year
and they have continued to arrive at an average of five families per
week.
The rapid influx has put a strain on Lewiston's
school system and city government and is raising concern among
Lewiston residents. One homeowner posted a sign outside his home in
protest.
Some of the concerns that are expressed relative
to resources and expenses are legitimate, but others are obviously
camouflaged in bigotry.
Still, most residents have accepted their new
neighbors. As for the Somalis, they say that they will adjust to the
changes, and will maybe even make a little Mogadishu in Maine.
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