Springfield mayor: Investigation into businesses, immigration continues
www.springfieldnewssun.com
Springfield's mayor addressed resident questions and concerns about the increased Haitian immigrant population in the city and said a group looking into key issues would prepare a public report.

Springfield, Ohio became suddenly famous nationally when Trump claimed that an influx of Haitian migrants were devouring residents’ pets. I went looking to see what the town is experiencing from the perspective of local news, and it looks surprising nuanced.

It appears that the town saw a rapid influx of migrants fleeing violence in Haiti. The town has since experienced a strain in its ability to function in notable ways because of the population shock. The issues include a sudden reduction in the housing supply and an increase in traffic and inexperienced drivers. One particularly bad traffic accident killed a child during a school bus crash.

The city government has seemed to largely avoid blaming new arrivals themselves. However they’ve expressed a sense of betrayal towards Biden and the federal government for granting thousands of people entry into the country without appearing to recognize any responsibility for helping them resettle or aiding their destination cities in accommodating them. Additionally, they’ve begun investigating local businesses which they suspect used the expansion of visas for Haitians seeking asylum as an opportunity to seek out low-cost workers while concealing their role in creating a population shock for which the city was unprepared.

I must say that I think the city government makes a reasonable point: those of use who want to offer foreign visitors safety and dignity in American must also demand that our government takes responsibility for helping them relocate to a town in which is expecting their arrival and has been aided in making that arrival successful.

  • tardigrada@beehaw.org
    14·
    3 months ago

    Exactly eight years ago this week, Trump campaigned in Miami and spent some time at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, stressing the “common values” he shared with Haitian Americans.

    “Whether you vote for me or not,” the then-candidate said at the time, “I really want to be your biggest champion.”

    A year later, he scrapped temporary protected status for Haitians who were allowed entry to the U.S. following a devastating earthquake in 2010. A year after that, the Republican hosted a White House meeting and referred to Haiti as a “s—hole” country.

    And now, Trump is lying to the public about Haitian immigrants — the same people he told, “I really want to be your biggest champion” — betraying a community he vowed to look out for.

    Source: Trump betrays a community he previously vowed to ‘champion’

    Now, Trump says he’s going to deport Haitian immigrants from Springfield, Ohio, even though they’re there legally.

    We will do large deportations from Springfield, Ohio. Large deportations. We’re going to get these people out. We’re bringing them back to Venezuela [sic]. [Edit typo.]

    • Andy@slrpnk.netOP
      7·
      3 months ago

      I find a big problem we have is that the media and Democrats never seem to educate people on any distinctions between undocumented crossings, Visa overstays, asylum cases, Green cards, naturalization, etc.

      It’s outrageous that Trump will threaten to depart people who have followed every role as though they’re all criminals and no one ever seems to push back on any of it!

      He’s flirted with deporting natural born Americans, and it’s the obvious destination when people passively accept his racialized view of Americanism!