*Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are voicing their concerns as their community becomes a focal point in the immigration debate.
Springfield is a city of 58,000, located about 50 miles west of Columbus. It is facing a severe housing crisis with its Haitian population swelling to 15,000-20,000 in recent years. This surge has intensified local tensions, particularly following a tragic school bus accident involving a Haitian immigrant that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old and reports of pets being stolen and eaten.
The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau spoke to Haitians and other residents living in Springfield about the migrant issues.
Alimemby Estimable, 19, moved to Springfield four years ago and said he’s been called a “dirty Haitian” and an “illegal.”
“The majority of us, we work in warehouses, factories. You can’t work there illegally. Obviously, we’re legally working,” he said.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about a lot of stuff that’s not accurate. You know, saying, like, all Haitians are cutting ducks’ necks and eating them at the park and like, they’re running into trash cans and homes and stuff. I ain’t never seen a Haitian do that before. I’m just keep it real, because I’m a Haitian myself,” Estimable said.
Some Springfield residents have expressed concerns about the growing population, noting that it has led to difficulties in finding groceries, accessing county services, and resulting in millions in state funding.
Joe Ruck, a co-owner of Champion City Cuts Barber Shop in Springfield, said the south side of the city is known as “Little Haiti.”
“Someone’s cat comes up missing? They gonna say the Haitians did it,” Ruck said.
Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, reiterated the allegations about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets, citing information relayed by locals on social media.
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“In Springfield they are eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said during Tuesday’s presidential debate.
“In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said Haitian migrants abducted their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife,” Vance posted on social media, noting that “It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”
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