During presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10, former President Donald Trump brought attention to unverified claims circulating in Ohio about Haitian migrants allegedly eating local pets and wildlife. These accusations have been denied by both city officials and law enforcement in Springfield, Ohio, however, the city has been dealing with challenges posed by a significant increase in Haitian migrants.
Since 2020, approximately 20,000 Haitian migrants are estimated to have arrived in Springfield, which has placed a strain on local resources. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine addressed the situation, saying, “If you just look at the percentage, this is a massive increase. It’s just unprecedented what we’ve seen in Springfield and so again, they need help.”
In response, DeWine announced plans to send law enforcement support and $2.5 million in health care resources to assist the city in managing the influx.
Springfield has become a focal point in the national conversation on immigration, with Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost considering a potential lawsuit against the federal government to limit the arrival of additional migrants to the state.
"I want the people of Springfield and Clark County to know that as we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants," said DeWine in a statement . "The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away."
The Ohio State Patrol was dispatched to Springfield on Wednesday to assist local law enforcement, particularly as officials reported an uptick in traffic issues caused by migrants unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws.
Meanwhile, unsubstantiated rumors about Haitian migrants abducting and harming pets and wildlife have continued to circulate.
Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, echoed these claims during an interview after this week's debate, saying "When you have a lot of people saying, my pets are being abducted, or geese at the city pond are being abducted and slaughtered right in front of us, this is crazy stuff."
Other social media channels have continued to investigate these assertions, traveling to Springfield to speak with residents about the claims.
“We've lost a whole bunch of cats," one resident of the city claimed. "There was a van load, a van pulled over that had over 100 cats in it with the Haitians. They said they was eating them.”
Local government representatives have denied any reports that Haitian migrants are harming pets, engaging in illegal activities like squatting, or intentionally disrupting traffic.
The Springfield City manager emphasized that no evidence has been found to support these rumors, issuing a statement which said “there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
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