The challenges Springfield, Ohio faces to handle Haitian migrants

(NewsNation) — Unsubstantiated claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating neighbors’ pets have gone from city commission meetings to the 2024 presidential campaign. But the attention has led to a larger discussion about the impact of immigration on U.S. communities.

Springfield, Ohio mentioned during presidential debate

During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump repeated claims that immigrants in the Ohio town are eating neighbors’ pets. Springfield city leaders have said those claims are unsubstantiated.

Springfield is a town of just under 60,000 people, according to the 2020 Census, and since then an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 migrants have settled there looking for work, many of them from Haiti.

Its city leaders are faced with the same reality many other midsized manufacturing towns are faced with — balancing the need for workers versus managing finite resources in the community.

Immigrants in Springfield

Residents who spoke with NewsNation say the situation is out of control and the city lacks the ability to handle the 20,000 Haitian immigrants. Richard Jordan addressed the issue at a city commission meeting.

“Is there a cut-off point for the population here?” he asked.”I mean, I feel like there should be a ‘No Vacancy’ sign right now and people are still coming in. What’s the cut-off point?”

Some Haitian residents of the city feel they are victims of misconceptions about the community and their status in the country.

“Let’s be clear, there is a preconceived notion that all Haitians here in Springfield are illegal immigrants, which is false. Some of us are Haitian-American citizens who can vote, we are green card holders, and some of us are here via a federal program that allows us to have a Social Security card, employment authorization, that allows us to temporarily stay in the country,” one resident said.

The federal government has pledged $2.5 million to increase access to medical care but Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says it isn’t enough. 

“They have to step up,” he said. “It is their policies that have created these surges.”

The number of immigrants has strained healthcare services and schools and the number of car accidents has skyrocketed.

Springfield residents talk to NewsNation

Residents tell NewsNation they are additionally concerned about crime in a town that’s already seen a spike in violent offenses. FBI data shows violent crime went up by 142% from 2019 to 2022, the latest year data is available. The agency does not track crime by immigration status.

Bill Monaghan, a former journalist in Springfield, is now part of a group called “Stop the Influx.”

“It’s causing sharp increases in rent and home prices, which is forcing people out of their homes,” Monaghan said. “It’s causing delays in public safety response like police, fire or even emergency services. You go out to a site and no one speaks English.”

Aidan Clark

Last year 11-year-old Aiden Clark was killed in a car accident, and the person driving the car was a Haitian migrant. His father, Nathan Clark, urged politicians not to use his son’s death to further political agendas in a city commission meeting this week, NewsNation affiliate WDTN reported.

“You know, I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man,” Nathan Clark said. “I bet you never thought anyone would ever say something so blunt. But if that guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone. The last thing that we need is to have the worst day of our lives violently and constantly shoved in our faces.”

Rents and home prices have risen nationwide since 2019, with the increases partially attributed to inflation and interest rates as well as a lack of housing stock.

Another man told NewsNation he lost his job and his home because of the influx of immigrants, saying he was replaced by workers willing to accept worse conditions.

“Haitians [replaced me] through a temporary company because they found out they could get it for a lot less than $21 per hour,” Roland said.

Claims of immigrants eating pets

But it’s the topic of immigrants eating pets and other animals that has gone viral. One 911 call included a report of people taking waterfowl.

“I see a group of Haitian people, there are about four of them, they all have geese in their hands,” the caller said. 

In an August city commission meeting, Anthony Harris complained that immigrants were taking ducks from a park. 

“They’re in the park grabbing up ducks by the neck and cutting their head off and walking off with them and eating them,” he said.

Springfield’s mayor denies reports of pets being taken

Springfield police didn’t find any evidence of those actions and the city’s mayor has also denied all reports of pets being taken and eaten.

“The president of the Clark County Commission and I held a press conference to address recent rumors that have been circulating relative to the Haitian Community,” said Clark County Commissioner Rob Rue. “We wish to clarify that there have not been any credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”

The city also says that Haitian immigrants are in the country legally under a federal program that allows them to remain in the country temporarily, the Associated Press reported.

Last month the Biden administration granted eligibility for temporary legal status to about 300,000 Haitians already in the United States because conditions in Haiti are considered unsafe for them to return. Haiti’s government has extended a state of emergency to the entire country due to endemic gang violence, according to the AP.

Some residents told NewsNation they don’t believe the city and are now planning to leave.