By Fiona Espinoza-Castro
Staff Writer
During the Sep. 10 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, while discussing immigration, Trump said, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating, the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in this country.”
67 Million Americans watched as Trump made this unexpected remark, launching the town of Springfield, Ohio, into the national spotlight.
The Wall Street Journal reported that, a day before, on the morning of Sep. 9, in Springfield, Ohio, a staff member from vice presidential candidate JD Vance’s team approached City Manager Bryan Heck, asking him if the rumors about the pets being stolen and eaten were true. However, Heck persistently said that there was no verifiable evidence to back the claim.
NewsGuard, an online misinformation-tracking company, was able to track the cat-eating rumors to a post by a Springfield native on a Facebook page that was third-hand information and later deleted by the original poster.
A Vance spokesperson told the WSJ that a police report had been made, claiming that a resident’s pet had been stolen by Haitian neighbors. However, when police went to the residence later that evening, the woman stated that her cat had gone missing a month ago but had been found days later in her basement
Instead of disregarding the Springfield remark, Vance took to his account on X and posted, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
Vance’s post has since garnered over 11.4 million views. Since then, the small town of Springfield has received countless bomb threats, approximately 33 different kinds of threats, by email or by phone, according to PBS.
USA Today reported that one email stated the following: “My hometown of Springfield is becoming a third world (expletive) because you allowed the federal government to dump these (expletive) here. We have Haitians eating our animals and then you lie and claim this is not happening when we see this happening. I’m here to send a message, I placed a bomb in the following locations: Springfield Driver Exam Station, Ohio License Bureau Southside, Springfield Academy-Excellence and Fulton Elementary School.”
The email claimed that the bombs would detonate in hours; however, as a precautionary measure, the buildings were evacuated and there is an ongoing investigation regarding that matter.
Trump responded to the bomb threats by denying them. Meanwhile, Vance seemed to admit that he had created the narrative around Haitian migrants in Springfield to draw attention to immigration as a whole, reported PBS. Vance even stated that if those threats came from another nation, he and Trump had nothing to do with that matter and were not at fault.
Several Springfield residents claim to have encountered hate groups such as the Proud Boys and the Ku Klux Klan. These groups even placed flyers throughout the town, claiming that Haitian immigrants are “disease-ridden and filthy,” according to PBS.
According to NPR, Springfield, Ohio, had a population of 60,000 four years ago; however, once Haitian migrants arrived it went up by 15,000-20,000 more.
According to the WSJ, Vance described the town as an example of being overrun by “illegal immigrants” and blamed Harris’ immigration policy.
The City of Springfield stated that Haitian migrants were allowed to enter the U.S. legally, however, through the immigration parole program. Once in the U.S., they could apply for Temporary Protected Status, as Haiti is categorized as one of the countries under that program by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Although not granted permanent residence or a visa, it protects them from deportation.
Vance has even claimed that various communicable diseases have risen ever since Haitians migrated to the town. However, the Washington Post reported that Clark County in Springfield found scientific evidence that disputes the claim.
Many members of the Springfield community have stepped in to support the migrants during this time.
Jamie McGregor, CEO of the McGregor plant in Ohio, said “I think this whole notion of migrants taking American jobs is hogwash,” according to NPR. McGregor went on to say that only ignorant people who have never made a payroll in their life or tried to run a business believe such claims.
His metal plant requires over 300 people, with demands rising higher than what it could produce following the pandemic. Many Haitian migrants, who are legal, unlike Vance’s claim, have filled labor shortage gaps.
Although Haitian immigrants are working hard, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, says that while the town does want to grow their community, their concerns are regarding the speed in which it occurs, prompting them to seek federal help, reported NPR.
Many residents of Springfield have shown their support for the Haitian community, but the migrants remain on edge. PBS reported several Haitian residents fear for their lives, uncertain of who might harm them.
One Haitian man, on his day off, said was unable to take his son to the park. Another resident, Philomene Philostin, a local pastor and an owner of a grocery store geared towards the Haitian community, was followed by a man for several blocks. She was only able to shake him off after she ran to seek help from the police.
“It’s sad. Especially, it’s all over the news,” Philostin said. “And I ask myself is, why all those Haitians helped to build Springfield? So why they don't see the good thing the Haitian, the immigrant do? Please stop hurting us. We don't deserve that.”
