One of the most viral moments in last week’s presidential debate was Trump saying immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating pets.
Since then, city officials have repeatedly said the claims are unverified and false. In the past week, city buildings and schools have received over 30 bomb threats— all of them verified as hoaxes.
Tuesday afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine hosted a press conference in the city along with other officials. He shared how he visited the schools, and had heard from teachers the students were well, but Monday had been a rough day.
“We don’t want that for any students, or staff for that matter,” said DeWine.
Also starting on Tuesday, dozens of Ohio State Police are stationed around 17 schools in the area as a visible sign of protection. Schools were seeing dramatic decreases in attendance because of the threats.
“The people who are sending these, both domestic and foreign, are trying to stir up chaos. We will find them,” said DeWine.
Former President Donald Trump mentioned over the weekend he wants to visit the city soon. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said a presidential campaign visit would be poorly timed.
“If either one of the candidates wanted to come to Springfield, it would be very very difficult to have them here. It would be an extreme strain on our resources. So its fine by me if they do not come,” said Rue.
The national attention has highlighted cultural divides in the city. Several people in the afternoon that Erie News Now visited raised concerns about pets; and other ways their daily life has been disrupted or changed.
The city of Springfield has seen an influx of around 15,000 Haitian immigrants in the past few years. The rise in population has put a strain on some resources in the area, like education.
“When you go from 200 to 1200 [non English speaking students], that does create a challenge on how schools will educate all students. But we know we have to, and we have, and we will continue to meet that requirement with the resources we have,” said Robert Hill, superintendent for Springfield City School District.
Primary health care system is also not robust enough to handle the number of people it now needs to serve. The community has also faced challenges from cultural/societal gaps. There have been an increase in traffic accidents. The state of Ohio has pledged money recently to help with all these concerns— which have been very real and pressing long before last week’s debate.
For driving specifically, the state is looking to create new programs that pair immigrants who want to drive with a mentor to learn.
“Business owners understand the importance of their employees knowing how to drive safely. We have talked with them, and many are interested in allowing their Haitian employees take an hour off during the work day to go out and drive with a mentor,” said Andy Wilson, Director of Ohio’s Department of Public Safety.
The rise in population also lead to a rise in the workforce in the past few years.
“I spoke with a business owner yesterday who said their business would not be here without the Haitians,” said DeWine. “They show up for work, they work hard. Yes, there are language barriers and there can be cultural differences, but at the end of the day they step up."
Not on the list of significant concerns? Pet eating. Erie News Now spoke with members of the Haitian community;
"Our children are stressed. They go to class and come home and ask if they will get deported,” said Callenss, one man we met at a local Creole diner.
Many of the Haitian immigrants are here on Temporary Protected Status, so they are not forced back to a nation in chaos.
"Haiti right now is unstable. Here? We have peace. We have a place to be. We are just living life, relaxing."