Tremont Police Chief Chad Duncan told Blaze News' Julio Rosas that the government's mishandling of the immigration situation in Springfield, Ohio, caused avoidable “confusion” between residents and Haitians. Ta.
Duncan said the local and federal governments failed to even try to assimilate foreigners into the community's existing culture before flooding the area with so many new residents. He echoed the concerns expressed on the news.
“It's not good for either side and it's unfortunate.”
Former journalist Bill Monaghan recently told Rosas that many local residents self-censor for fear of being labeled racist or intolerant for voicing their concerns. When people speak out about housing shortages and increased traffic accidents, the city either ignores them or suggests their concerns are “based on some kind of misplaced racial resentment,” he said. he said.
“I think being ignored and being called a racist is a big reason why people are concerned about speaking out,” Monaghan said.
Duncan explained that the situation in Springfield has spilled over into neighboring towns, including Tremont City. The police chief said that while many surrounding municipalities are trying to crack down on the rise in reckless driving and unlicensed drivers who tow vehicles, Springfield is not one of them.
“The effect of that is that there are people out there who shouldn't be driving, and we're allowing them to drive,” Duncan told Rosas. “Many of these people aren't even wanted after an accident.”
As a result of the increase in traffic accidents, many caused by unlicensed Haitian drivers, insurance premiums in the area have increased, police chiefs told Blaze News.
“People are losing their lives. So it's a huge impact,” he continued. “I tow their cars because that's the only way to get them to stop, or at least try to stop.”
“We find that hitting people's pocketbooks attracts attention. And it costs about $400 to get them towed here when all is said and done. And then they have to pay for the court appearance. '' said Duncan.
He told Rosas about twice in two weeks that he had stopped an unlicensed person in his car and had it towed. In one of the incidents, the person was “driving through town at 44 mph in a 44-mile radius,” Duncan said.
When asked if Springfield would have towed the driver's car in that situation, Duncan said local police would not have towed it.
“If you look at the protection status of these refugees and immigrants,” Duncan said, referring to the federal protection status. Temporary protection status The program states that if you commit two misdemeanors, you will be deported.
Duncan said the driver he stopped had three misdemeanor charges for operating a vehicle without a license. He questioned whether the individual could face any real consequences.
Adding to the problem for Tremont, Duncan said it has become impossible to hear the Springfield Police Department's radio frequency since the city began receiving national attention for its immigration crisis. He speculated that the ministry turned off notifications to reduce criticism by concealing its activities.
“This has a huge impact on us, because if they have a shooting in the city, if they have a pursuit in the city and it ends up in the county, I know about it. “But we've experienced them going 160 miles an hour through Tremont, 40 miles an hour streets with little kids roaming around,” he said.
Duncan said all of the problems the community is currently facing as a result of the large influx of immigrants could have been avoided.
“There could have been another way that would have been beneficial to everyone involved,” he continued. “We want everyone to understand that we are not against Haitians.”
“We understand that anyone who has a heart, who has empathy, who has intelligence would want to leave if their home country was in a situation like Haiti is now. . You want to find safety and you want to take care of people's family and yourself,'' Duncan said.
Mr Duncan said he was frustrated that the government was not providing services to assimilate immigrants. He argued that before sending Haitian nationals into American communities, they should have first been placed in centralized locations where they were taught English, how to drive and how to find jobs. Such a process would have avoided concentrating all the difficulties in one community, he explained.
“If they had just taken their time instead of worrying about the elites lining their pockets, this could have gone much more smoothly and been more beneficial to everyone involved,” he said. added.
Rather, Duncan said, the inappropriate situation has caused confusion and frustration among local residents and Haitians living in the area.
“The city is in complete chaos. Everyone is against everyone,” he said.
Duncan told Rosas that he recently spoke with a young Haitian woman who had driven around a barricade.
“She had a license, she had insurance, she was registered. Everything was on point. So obviously that didn't lead to a citation or anything like that.” he explained.
“We want you to understand that we're not against you Haitians, okay? We want you to come here,” Duncan told the young woman. We just don't like the way our government puts you here. It doesn't help you. And she started crying, 'You guys hate us. I said, “No, that's not you. That's the government's way.”
“We kind of built a little bridge over there, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
“I have no problem with them. I understand what's going on in that country,” Duncan said, referring to Haiti.
“In the end, we just end up with constant disruption because they don't adapt to our culture,” he added. “It's not good for either of us and it's unfortunate.”
After several calls to the Springfield Police Department went unanswered, the department told Blaze News in an email: If you have a media request, we will contact you as soon as possible. ”
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