Did you know there are many experts on immigration in towns surrounding Lewiston and Auburn? Anthony Christakis of Poland seems to be one of them (Aug. 14). He claims that immigrants are responsible for putting the heavy burden on our welfare system. However, MSNBC.com states that only 0.7 percent of Maine’s population is black. This means that even if all black people in Maine were receiving welfare, they still would not be the greatest burden.

Mr. Christakis also questions why Lewiston High School allows Muslims a special prayer room. Has Mr. Christakis ever been to LHS? I am a teacher at LHS, and I have never seen a prayer room for any particular religious group. School Board Chairman Jim Handy confirmed this when I spoke to him this week.

John R. Davis of South Paris also seems to be an expert on Lewiston’s immigration trend (Aug. 14). He claims that immigrants have no right to hold on to their cultures, language and religion. Perhaps we should put locks on the Franco-American Heritage Center, delete the French and Greek festivals from Lewiston’s summer repertoire, put a stop to all other cultural activities related to anything else but English, and tell my 98-year-old Canadian immigrant grandmother to stop speaking French.

Or, was Mr. Davis referring only to immigrants from certain African countries?

Until people have all the facts, I think it may be better for them to keep opinions to themselves.

Somali immigrants and others from Africa are here to stay.

Rachel Rodrigue, Lewiston