"Asylum seekers — I think the biggest problem in our state — and I’ll explain that to you,” said Maine Gov. Paul LePage. | AP Photo Gov. Paul LePage says asylum seekers are bringing AIDS and 'ziki fly' to Maine

Asylum seekers are the biggest problem for his state, Maine Gov. Paul LePage said on Tuesday.

“Asylum seekers — I think the biggest problem in our state — and I’ll explain that to you,” LePage said, according to Maine’s MPBN News, as the crowd at a town hall began to chant “shame, shame.”


But the Republican governor, who has a history of making controversial statements, was undeterred.

Those seeking asylum don’t get medical assessments and risk bringing foreign diseases, LePage said.

“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,” he said.

LePage was speaking in Freeport, Maine.