Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is blasting Donald Trump for comments he made about Somalis residing in The Pine Tree State. Mr. Trump, who has called for a temporary ban on Muslims from certain countries with terrorist ties entering the country, recently stirred controversies by pointing fingers at the large Somali community living in Maine.
There are over 12,000 Somali refugees living in the state, a majority of them are American citizens and by all accounts, they are well assimilated. They have opened businesses, sent their children to college, and joined the local government. However, that is not how the Republican nominee sees it. On Thursday, the mogul was at a rally in Portland, Maine where he said:
“We’ve just seen many, many crimes getting worse all the time, and as Maine knows — a major destination for Somali refugees — right, am I right?”
The mogul added:
“Well, they’re talking about it. Maine. Somali refugees. We admit hundreds of thousands — you admit, into Maine, and to other places in the United States — hundreds of thousands of refugees.”
Collins slammed the Republican presidential nominee for the recent comments about her state’s Somali community. Collins expressed her unease in a statement:
“Mr. Trump’s statements disparaging immigrants who have come to this country legally are particularly unhelpful. Maine has benefited from people from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and, increasingly, Africa — including our friends from Somalia.”
Collins, who is considered one of the most moderate Republicans in office, is thinking about voting for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The Maine senator is not alone to lash out against Trump. On Saturday, more than 400 people, including Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling carrying copies of the Constitution, gathered at Portland’s City Hall chanting “more love, no hate,” and holding signs that read “I love my neighbors” and “No place for racism.” Abdifatah Ahmed spoke to the crowd saying:
“Coming from a troubled place does not mean that we are criminals.So we will stay here, and, you know, in November we will vote.”
Acting police chief, Brian O’Malley, stated:
“The Somalis have not caused any increase in crime. They’re integrated here in our city.The Somalis come here because they want somewhere safe and good schools to raise their kids, and that’s what Lewiston has.”
Trump has been performing poorly in polls with minorities.
