US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made headlines again on Friday by pledging to conduct mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from Springfield, Ohio, despite the fact that the majority of them are legally residing in the United States.
During a press conference held at his golf resort near Los Angeles, Trump announced, “We will do large deportations in Springfield, Ohio.”
His remarks came after the small Ohio city had been thrust into the spotlight following false social media claims that Haitian arrivals were eating household pets, accusations that have since been debunked.
The city of Springfield, home to around 15,000 Haitian immigrants, has been the epicenter of a social media storm stoked by right-wing agitators.
Local officials have made it clear that the majority of the Haitian residents are in the U.S. legally, and no credible reports of unusual or illegal behavior, such as consuming pets, have surfaced.
Trump’s pledge, while consistent with his long-standing calls for tougher immigration policies, marks a shift in rhetoric since his deportation proposals have traditionally focused on individuals residing in the country illegally.
Trump did not repeat his widely criticised assertion during Tuesday’s presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that immigrants were eating dogs and cats. The remark, which has been met with ridicule, further intensified the controversy surrounding his immigration stance.
Tensions in Springfield escalated further on Friday when anonymous bomb threats were made against the Haitian community for the second consecutive day. Two elementary schools were evacuated, and a middle school was closed as a precaution. Local authorities are investigating the threats, which have rattled the small Ohio community.
Springfield’s mayor, Rob Rue, condemned the rising hostility, stating, “We need help, not hate.” Rue, along with other local officials, emphasised that the city had not received any credible reports of residents eating household animals.
Karen Graves, a spokesperson for the city, clarified that while there have been some incidents of “crimes of opportunity” targeting Haitian residents, such as property theft, there have been no indications of hate crimes specifically targeting the immigrant population.
At the national level, President Joe Biden responded to the situation in Springfield by calling for an end to the attacks on the Haitian community. Speaking from the White House, Biden urged calm, stating, “It’s simply wrong. There’s no place in America. This has to stop – what he’s [Trump] doing. It has to stop.”
In June, the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the U.S., a program that offers legal immigrants protection from deportation and work permits. The extension was in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has displaced over half a million people, and nearly five million are facing severe food insecurity.
Trump, however, remains steadfast in his position, citing the influx of Haitian immigrants as a reason for stricter immigration enforcement. At a rally in Las Vegas on Friday, he expressed frustration, stating, “I’m angry about illegal Haitian migrants taking over Springfield, Ohio. You see that mess, don’t you?” He later added, “I’m angry about young American girls being raped and murdered by savage criminal aliens that come into our country very easily, but very illegally.”
Haitian community leaders across the country have expressed growing concern over the impact of Trump’s rhetoric, warning that his statements could incite violence and further inflame tensions in Springfield. Many have called for solidarity and protection in the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
As the debate over immigration heats up ahead of the 2024 election, Springfield’s Haitian community remains caught in the middle. While Trump’s hardline policies resonate with a segment of his base, local officials and residents are urging a more compassionate and fact-based approach to addressing immigration issues.