‘We need help, not hate:’ Springfield, Ohio at center of national debate on immigration
Since former President Donald Trump claimed that Haitians are eating pets in Springfield, the atmosphere has dramatically shifted.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The people of Springfield are eager to return to normalcy.
In just two weeks, this central Ohio city, home to nearly 60,000 residents, has witnessed police presence at church services, 200 students absent from an elementary school due to bomb threats, and a local commission meeting that overflowed, requiring many residents to watch the proceedings on their phones outside the venue.
After unverifiable statements from Ohio Senator JD Vance about Haitian immigrants kidnapping and consuming pets, echoed by former President Trump during a debate, locals and officials are grappling with heightened security concerns, national media scrutiny, and a wave of hateful communications.
The attention on Springfield is expected to persist, especially with Trump’s planned visit in the upcoming weeks.
Authorities at both state and local levels have stated that claims attributing pet consumption to Haitians are unfounded. Moreover, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources failed to find any evidence supporting perceptions of immigrants stealing geese from local parks and trails.
Such allegations distract from the genuine issues Springfield faces as it adapts to a rising population of Haitian migrants, according to Mayor Rob Rue, a Republican.
“If I realized my words caused harm, I would strive to change that,” Rue expressed. “I just wish for a resolution and to stop being a part of political manipulation. We want to break free from this political turmoil.”
In a CNN interview last week, Vance stated he was attempting to highlight immigration matters in Springfield, asserting, “If I must fabricate stories to capture the media’s attention on American struggles, then I will.”
A rust belt community facing new challenges
Springfield has been an industrial hub since the late 1800s, but the city’s median income saw a decline between 1999 and 2014 due to the loss of manufacturing jobs across America.
In 2022, Springfield made efforts to entice more businesses, which subsequently led to job creation that attracted immigrants, particularly from the Haitian community.
Pierre Eric Jean, a Haitian resident, shared that he came to Springfield because it was the first city in the U.S. that he learned about.
“We Haitians are here to work diligently and support our families back home,” he noted.
The city has now established a “Little Haiti” neighborhood, which includes a library branch featuring a French language section, two Haitian restaurants, and seven Haitian grocery stores.
Local officials have been contending with the effects of the growing Haitian population, which has increased by about 25%. Mayor Rue noted that the number of non-native English-speaking students in the school district expanded from 200 to 2,000. Furthermore, he mentioned that the city’s first responders are among the busiest in the state, often providing primary healthcare services due to a strained healthcare system.
In July, Springfield City Manager Brian Heck reached out to federal representatives, including Ohio’s senators, seeking assistance to combat the city’s housing crisis. This letter was presented by Vance at a committee hearing, which led to a subsequent Fox News interview featuring Heck and Rue.
Resident Heidi Earlywine observed a rise in complaints regarding immigration at city meetings last year, which she attributes to the end of continuous Medicaid enrollment in March 2023 and the increased visibility of homeless individuals in the city following the closure of a homeless shelter.
“When you drive through town in 2023, you see unhoused individuals and are now faced with your…
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benefits anymore, right? So, there were a couple of events that stirred up unrest in the community, as mentioned by Earlywine during her remarks.
This turmoil escalated following the unfortunate incident involving a bus.
In August 2023, Hermanio Joseph, who emigrated from Haiti, collided with a Northwestern Local Schools bus, resulting in it overturning. Tragically, 11-year-old Aiden Clark was killed when he was thrown from the bus, and more than 20 students sustained injuries.
In May, Joseph was found liable for involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide, leading to a prison sentence between nine and 13.5 years.
“When that incident occurred, it intensified the existing issues immensely,” Earlywine commented.
Don and Marie Owens, who have lived in Springfield for 40 years, concurred, noting that the crash “definitely” raised the city’s tensions.
Last week, Nathan Clark, Aiden’s father, urged residents and politicians to stop exploiting his son’s tragic death to voice anti-immigrant sentiments. He called out political figures, including Vance and Trump, who referenced his son’s case, demanding apologies. He deemed it “reprehensible” to use his son for political gain.
However, interest in Springfield surged only days before the presidential debate when Vance and other Republican leaders spread false rumors claiming that Haitian immigrants were harming pets.
Things took a turn after Trump made this assertion to a national viewership.
“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re feeding on the pets of the locals,” Trump stated in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
City Faces National Spotlight and Threats of Violence
Since the debate, various locations in Springfield, including City Hall, two elementary schools, two hospitals, three grocery stores, two colleges, and the Ohio Statehouse have received threatening messages.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reported that Springfield endured 33 bomb threats, all ultimately deemed hoaxes. Nonetheless, these threats caused significant disruptions, leading to cancellations of community and school activities.
“As a fellow human, it pains me to see defamatory falsehoods targeting any group,” Rue expressed. “I empathize with the Haitian community for undergoing such fear and hostility, and I wish for it to cease.”
At a City Commission meeting on September 10, some residents shared their feelings about the increased immigration, describing it as an “invasion” while expressing their worries over homelessness, increasing rent, and longer police response times.
Since moving to their mostly Black neighborhood in 1992, Don and Marie Owens have seen a shift, with many Haitian families now residing nearby. Their grandson used to play with children from a Haitian family and has a Haitian friend in school today.
They voiced financial anxieties regarding escalating home prices, but were dismayed by the rumors concerning pets, asserting that the Haitian community in Springfield has been treated unfairly.
“This situation is unjust to both Haitians and other residents here,” Marie Owens remarked. “It’s regrettable that Trump made such a statement without verifying its truthfulness; it’s merely a publicity stunt that impacts all of us negatively.”
Fear Grips Some Haitians Living in Springfield
Luckens Merzius came to Springfield from Haiti with his wife and two daughters six years ago. They are members of the First Baptist Church, which included a prayer for Haiti during Sunday’s service.
Merzius noted that many Haitians emigrated due to political turmoil and violence but are now feeling unsafe once again in their local community.
Earlywine shared that several members of the Haitian evangelical church in Springfield received anonymous calls with offensive messages urging them to “Return to your f—–g country,” leaving them terrified. Throughout the church service on Sunday, there was a visible police presence.
Myriam Joseph, a Haitian who arrived in Springfield in 2020 and works as a home health care nurse, mentioned feeling afraid while entering the homes of her predominantly white patients, especially when discussions of politics arise, such as inquiries about her preference between Trump or Harris.
Governor DeWine declared that the Ohio State Highway Patrol will perform daily bomb sweeps in Springfield schools and urged parents to send their kids back to the classrooms. Springfield City School District Superintendent Robert Hill reported a decrease in attendance, with 200 students absent from an elementary school that has an enrollment of 500 on Tuesday.
What Lies Ahead for Springfield?
City officials are worried about a possible visit from Trump and mentioned that the community’s resources are being stretched thin.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Rue pointed out that just a week prior, the city was not facing the same pressures it currently does.
“We’re conducting these interviews to show the world that Springfield is a wonderful city,” Rue stated. “We are a city of hard workers. We aspire to progress together. We’ve always persevered for success, and we are committed to becoming a thriving community. What we need is assistance, not animosity. We seek harmony, not turmoil.”
Reports contributed by Cincinnati Enquirer’s Amber Hunt and Scott Wartman.