After the Republican ticket to the U.S. presidential election attacked Haitian immigrants in Ohio, the governor has taken new steps to help Springfield cope with the influx of Haitian migrants.
The governor announced the allocation of $2.5 million and the deployment of additional troops to the city of Springfield.
Mike DeWine presented a multi-pronged action plan to support the city of Springfield, which is facing a significant influx of Haitian migrants. The initiative includes the deployment of Ohio State Highway Patrol officers and the allocation of $2.5 million to improve health services in the city.
Springfield, a city of around 59,000, has seen its population increase by more than 20% since 2020, mainly due to the arrival of around 15,000 Haitian migrants. This increase has attracted national attention and sparked a local debate on how best to accommodate this growing migrant population.
While not opposed to the TPS program, the Republican governor stressed the need for increased federal support to help communities like Springfield manage these migratory flows.
“These dramatic increases impact every citizen in the community,” DeWine said at a press conference. He pointed to the strain on local resources, particularly in the areas of health and education, adding that other cities, such as Findlay and Lima, are also facing similar challenges.
The governor’s announcement comes just hours before a high-profile presidential debate, in which immigration, particularly that of Haitians to the U.S., had taken center stage. Over 20% of the 100-minute debate was devoted to Haitian immigrants and immigration in general. Republicans alleged that Haitian nationals in Springfield, Ohio, were engaging in the practice of eating the city’s pets. Donald Trump mentioned dogs, cats and other animals supposedly stolen by Haitians. His running mate, JD Vance, was the first to make these accusations on X (formerly Twitter). His message was shared by Elon Musk, a fervent supporter of Donald Trump.
These accusations against Haitian immigrants were denied by the city’s chief executive and by police authorities, who claimed that no cases of animal abuse had been recorded, and that no complaints had been filed by residents.
This case puts Ohio’s Haitians in the spotlight. Republicans seem to be using this situation for political ends, with the aim of preventing Haitian immigrants from seeking refuge in certain U.S. cities and states.
At the same time, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has asked his office to study legal measures to limit the federal government’s ability to send large numbers of migrants to Ohio.
Despite the challenges, DeWine emphasized that many Haitian migrants in Ohio are “hard-working individuals who love their families and seek to escape violence in their home countries.”
The governor’s plan includes resources for education, vaccinations, health screenings and translation services to better integrate the migrant population into the community. The dispatch of state police officers is also aimed at solving traffic problems caused by the new residents, who are not necessarily familiar with the rules of driving in the United States.
This article is based on a report by PBS News.
Accusations against Haitian immigrants in Ohio: Governor DeWine Announces New Measures and Resources for the City of Springfield
