Defying Stereotypes: African immigrant defies rising nativism to become US citizen

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As President Trump whips up anger over illegal immigration, one politician in Montana is trying to counter that. Wilmot Collins arrived as a refugee from Liberia and a year ago beat a four-term incumbent to become mayor of Montana's capital city. CGTN's Hendrik Sybrandy has more.

Wilmot Collins may be the most unique politician Montana has ever seen. Never, growing up in Liberia, West Africa, could he have dreamt that one day he'd be in charge of a city in America.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "People look up to you and people want you to be available to serve them."

His path to running Helena, Montana, population 31,000, began when he fled civil war in Liberia on a cargo ship a quarter century ago.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "When we got to the port the line to get on board the ship was more than a mile long. It was estimated 10,000 Liberians got on board that vessel. At the initial start of the trip we didn't even know where we were going."

His wife, once an exchange student in Montana, had won a scholarship to go to college in Helena and was already there. Collins was granted refugee status to join her.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "Things just took off. Never looked back."

He joined the U.S. military.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "This country offered me and my family a second chance at life. The very least I can do is give back."

Collins had always wanted to run for public office. Last year, his son challenged him to follow through. His friends backed him up.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "And that's how we started the ball rolling and before I knew it, I was knee deep in it."

He credits years of community involvement for helping him oust Helena's four-term incumbent mayor and win a spot on this wall of people who've led the city.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "People really did know who this person was even though he wasn't born here but he's a part of this community. So it played a huge role. It played a really big role in people trusting me. And here I am."

HENDRIK SYBRANDY HELENA, MONTANA "The Montana gold rush put Helena on the map some 150 years ago. It was one of the wealthier cities around by the late 1800s. Today, the gold is found in the leaves and funds for city services are at a premium."

Which is why, shortly after he took office, Collins asked voters to approve a property tax hike to bolster the Helena Fire Department's budget.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "We knocked on doors, we did everything and it passed with 70 percent."

This 55-year-old still works a full-time job in addition to his part-time mayorship. He's not one to sit idle.

DEBBIE HAVENS, CITY CLERK HELENA, MONTANA "Busy busy. It's amazing how many requests he's gotten. He travels almost every weekend."

At a time when refugees and immigrants have come under criticism in the U.S in a state, Montana, where less than half of one percent of residents are African American, Collins says personal connections have been key to his success. Get to know your people, he says.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "When they get to know you, all that hype and misinformation goes away. My election was evident."

Three years remain in Collins' mayoral term to address homelessness and other pressing issues. As for his political future, that may defy prediction too.

WILMOT COLLINS, MAYOR HELENA, MONTANA "I don't know. I'll have to answer the call of the people."

Hendrik Sybrandy, CGTN, Helena, Montana.