[cp124]

The Somali migration to Lewiston has not been without a few incidents of anger, name-calling and fights. One man put a sign on his lawn expressing his displeasure with their presence. That angered Kaileigh Tara, who was mayor when the Somalis first started arriving.

"It blows my mind that they can't connect the dots, that to sit here in their little world and say, 'We don't want these other people here, the rest of the world can take care of itself,' that's why we were attacked on Sept. 11, that's how we get airplanes slamming into buildings," Tara says.

But, in the spirit of the sahan, Abdiaziz Ali figures if the mood sours or if Somalis keep coming and Lewiston, like Portland before it, fills to overflowing, they will simply move on to the next city or town, to Augusta or Bath.

He is not worried. "We can spread out," he says, "anywhere we want."

[ozone1]

"I would also like to welcome recent statements by Commissioner Ziglar and Assistant Secretary Dewey that show a strong commitment to refugee protection and resettlement. My testimony today will focus on the challenges that lie ahead for the program, and the private sector's enthusiasm to work together in partnership with the State Department, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to meet our commitments."

http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/immigdaily/congress_news/2002,0214-Glickman.shtm