State, city officials speak out after rumors about Haitian migrants get national attention

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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 and 6:00, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Clark County Commission President Melanie Flax-Wilt, and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue held press conferences to speak on the Haitian population in Springfield.

On Monday, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator JD Vance posted to social media saying he has previously addressed the issue and now immigrants are eating people’s pets.

He said in part, “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”

A day later Vance made a second post on these claims.

“In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false,” the post said, in part.

Flax-Wilt and Rue said they have investigated those rumors, and they are false. On Monday, the City of Springfield provided the following statement:

“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community. Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents’ homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic.”

—  Karen Graves, Springfield Strategic Engagement Manager

In the same post, Vance touched on other real and true strains this immigration surge is putting on Springfield.

In particular, he mentioned how it’s impacting the healthcare and local school system.

City and county leaders have told News Center 7 it’s also impacting translation, fire, and police services.

They have also had problems with unlicensed and uneducated drivers.

Leaders have asked for help from Washington and Columbus.

Earlier this afternoon, DeWine outlined some additional steps the state is taking to help.

The Ohio Department of Health will work on this effort with the Clark County Health Department and other healthcare providers to expand primary case access for all Springfield residents. The state is providing $2.5 million in funding for this effort.

Starting Wednesday, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will support Springfield police by patrolling local roads with the highest crash rates and hold anyone who drivers erratically and risks the safety of others accountable.

“The federal government needs to assist these communities with funding because these dramatic migrant surges impact every citizen in the community -- the moms who have to wait hours in a waiting room with a sick child, everyone who drives on our streets, and the children who go to school in more crowded classrooms,” DeWine said. “The federal government does not have a plan to give any support to the communities impacted by surges, and we have absolutely no indication that a plan is coming in the near future.”

News Center 7 asked what else city and county leaders need from the state and federal governments to help address these issues.

“Funding is the biggest, is the number one thing, because federal funding is based on population data and we don’t have good population data on immigration. We aren’t accessing the federal funding that would be necessary. Same with state funding. But I don’t believe anybody’s going to save us but ourselves and the leadership to do that has to come from this community,” Flax-Wilt said.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story and provide updates.

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