Lewiston and Portland, Maine (Somali community)

The US Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey counted 3,111 Somali people in Maine, mostly in Lewiston and the Portland area (US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, B02025, via Census Reporter). Somali families began settling in Lewiston in 2001, and local estimates of the community run from 3,000 to 6,000 (Press Herald, March 2026; CNN via KTVZ, 2021).

How many Somalis live in Maine?

By the 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS), Maine had 3,111 people who named Somali as a race group, 2,617 by Somali ancestry and 1,420 born in Somalia (ACS 2020–2024, B02025; B04006; B05006). Maine ranks 14th among US states by the race count (ACS 2020–2024, B02025, by state).

The city of Lewiston had 1,742 by race and 1,205 by ancestry (ACS 2020–2024, B02025, Lewiston; B04006). Cumberland County, which holds Portland and South Portland, had 1,168 by race and 985 people born in Somalia (ACS 2020–2024, B02025, Cumberland County; B05006). These small counts carry wide margins of error (Census Reporter).

Local estimates are higher. In 2011, Lewiston officials estimated 3,000 to 5,000 Somalis, and a community leader estimated about 6,000 (Bangor Daily News, December 2011). In 2021, CNN reported about 6,000 Somalis in all of Maine (CNN via KTVZ). WBUR put Lewiston's community at about 3,000 in 2026 (WBUR, January 2026).

How did Somalis come to Maine?

Somali refugees first reached Portland in the 1990s (Press Herald, March 2026). By 2000 Portland faced a housing shortage, and the two cities worked to move 30 to 40 families from Portland's shelters and hotels to Lewiston (Press Herald).

The first wave reached Lewiston in February 2001 (Sun Journal via Press Herald, January 2018). The community grew from about 400 at the end of 2001 to about 1,000 by June 2002 (Press Herald, 2026; Bangor Daily News, 2011).

Almost all were second movers. They came from about 100 cities in 35 states, many from the Atlanta area (Bangor Daily News, 2011). Families said they chose Lewiston for quieter streets, less crime and lower costs (Sun Journal via Press Herald, 2018).

The 2002 letter and the reply. In October 2002, Lewiston's mayor wrote an open letter asking Somalis to discourage relatives from moving to the city (Bangor Daily News, 2011). A white-supremacist rally drew about 40 people (Bangor Daily News). The "Many and One" counter-rally at Bates College drew more than 4,000 people, by one count, and about 5,000 inside with 1,700 more outside, by another (Bangor Daily News; Press Herald, 2026).

Arrivals continue at a small scale. In the 2025 fiscal year, 50 refugees from Somalia were placed in Maine (Refugee Processing Center, FY2025 arrivals by state).

Work and business

By late 2002, about half of Somali adults in Lewiston had jobs, a rate that stayed fairly steady over the decade (Bangor Daily News, 2011). Employers that often hired Somalis included L.L.Bean, local hospitals, Goodwill and a Walmart distribution centre (Bangor Daily News).

By 2011, Somali-owned shops filled a block of Lisbon Street, Lewiston's old downtown (Bangor Daily News). One shop there grew to offer interpreting, tax preparation and a hawala money-transfer service (Bangor Daily News). Lisbon Street is still the city's immigrant shopping street, with halal markets and shops (WBUR, January 2026).

Schools changed too. Students learning English rose from a handful in 2001 to 28.4% of Lewiston's pupils in 2017 (Sun Journal via Press Herald, 2018). Lewiston High School's soccer team, with many Somali players, had won two state titles by 2018 (Sun Journal via Press Herald).

Who speaks for the community?

Mana Abdi won Lewiston's House District 95 in November 2022, the first Somali American elected to the Maine Legislature (Bangor Daily News, November 2022). Deqa Dhalac of South Portland and Yusuf Yusuf of Portland also serve in the Maine House (Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News, December 2025).

Dhalac joined South Portland's city council in 2018 and became mayor in December 2021 (CNN via KTVZ, December 2021). She was believed to be the first Somali American mayor in the United States (CNN via KTVZ). In December 2025 she said she would not seek re-election, citing harassment (Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News).

In Lewiston, ZamZam Mohamud won a school committee seat in 2014 (Sun Journal via Press Herald, 2018). Safiya Khalid won the Ward 1 city council seat in November 2019, at 23, with 69.6% of the vote (Bangor Daily News, November 2019).

Community groups include the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, which began as United Somali Women of Maine (Sun Journal via Press Herald, 2018). Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services began as the Somali Bantu Association of Maine (Sun Journal via Press Herald). Ifka Community Services and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in Portland work with families today (WBUR, January 2026).

What does the community face now?

Harsh words and a reply. On 4 December 2025, Maine's three Somali American lawmakers wrote an open letter calling the president's remarks about Somalis "dehumanizing" (Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News). Governor Janet Mills said the president was "demeaning the very idea and spirit of America" (Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News).

Raids in Maine. Federal immigration agents arrested more than 200 people in Maine in an operation that ICE dated 20 to 24 January 2026 (WBUR, January 2026). Lawyers and families said many of those held were asylum seekers without criminal records (WBUR). Lisbon Street went quiet, while neighbours drove children to school and delivered groceries; more than 1,000 people rallied (WBUR).

The end of Temporary Protected Status. Somalia's TPS designation, in place since 16 September 1991, ended on 14 August 2026 (USCIS). About 700 people nationwide held it, and an appeal has been filed (MPR News, August 2026).

How is Maine tied to home?

Lewiston's hawala counters connect families in Maine with relatives in Somalia (Bangor Daily News, 2011). The Somali diaspora as a whole sent US$1.73 billion home in 2023, a World Bank-based figure (Minnesota Reformer, March 2026). Since 1 January 2026, a 1% US tax applies to cash-funded transfers (Minnesota Reformer).

Many of Lewiston's families came through camps in Kenya before reaching the United States (Sun Journal via Press Herald, 2018). For the national picture, see United States (Somali diaspora).

Related pages

• United States (Somali diaspora)
• Other US Somali communities
• Atlanta and Clarkston
• Minneapolis–St Paul
• Why and how Somalis left
• Refugee camps
• Refugee papers and status
• Life after leaving

Sources

1. US Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, Tables B02025, B04006 and B05006 (Somali), Maine, Lewiston, Cumberland County and states. Via Census Reporter API. censusreporter.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
2. Joe Charpentier, Jamie Shelton and Josie Rothman, Portland Press Herald. "25 years later, Lewiston's Somali residents help shape the city's identity." 26 March 2026. pressherald.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
3. CNN via KTVZ. "A Maine city that's 90% White now has a Somali mayor." 7 December 2021. ktvz.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
4. Bangor Daily News. "Struggle and progress: 10 years of Somalis in Lewiston." 18 December 2011. bangordailynews.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
5. WBUR. Report on the immigration enforcement surge in Maine and Lewiston's Somali community. 30 January 2026. wbur.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
6. Bonnie Washuk, Sun Journal (via Portland Press Herald). "Lewiston makes strides towards embracing its immigrant population." 14 January 2018. pressherald.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
7. US Department of State, Refugee Processing Center. "FY 2025 Arrivals by State and Nationality as of 30 Sep 2025." rpc.state.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
8. Bangor Daily News. Mana Abdi elected to Maine House District 95. 8 November 2022. bangordailynews.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
9. Lauren McCauley, Maine Morning Star (via Yahoo News). "Maine's Somali legislators speak out after Trump's latest attacks." 5 December 2025. yahoo.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
10. Bangor Daily News. "Safiya Khalid becomes first Somali American elected to Lewiston City Council." 5 November 2019. bangordailynews.com. Checked 2026-11-12.
11. US Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Somalia." uscis.gov. Checked 2026-11-12.
12. MPR News. "Judge's order allows end to TPS protections for people from Somalia." 17 August 2026. mprnews.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
13. Minnesota Reformer. "Feds making it harder for immigrants to send money to family." 10 March 2026. minnesotareformer.com. Checked 2026-11-12.