Republican Maine Governor Paul LePage said at a Tuesday town hall that the biggest problem in his state are asylum seekers because they’re bringing with them all types of dangerous diseases.
“Asylum seekers — I think the biggest problem in our state — and I’ll explain that to you,” LePage told a hostile crowd which began heckling him at that remark, MBPN News reports.
The outspoken governor told the audience that these migrants aren’t properly screened and carry the risk of infecting native Mainers with several diseases.
He then listed the possible infections.
“And what happens is you get hepatitis C, tuberculosis, AIDS, HIV, the ‘ziki fly’ [sic] all these other foreign type of diseases that find a way to our land,” LePage stated.
The ‘ziki fly’ is likely in reference to the zika virus, which is primarily transmitted via mosquito and has recently captured the attention of American media as of late.
This latest comment from LePage is not the first time the governor has caused a stir this year.
In late January, the Republican said on a radio show the state should bring back the guillotine to deal with drug dealers. (RELATED: Maine Governor Wants To Send Drug Dealers To The Guillotine)
Earlier that month, he claimed out-of-state dope peddlers with names like “D-Money, Smoothie and Shifty” were impregnating white girls throughout Maine. National and state Democrats denounced those comments as racist. (RELATED: Maine Gov: Drug Dealers Named ‘D-Money’ Are Impregnating White Girls In State)