Springfield, Ohio – An Ohio town gained national attention last week after similar claims were made separately by vice presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and former President Donald Trump, making it an unexpected battleground ahead of the November election.
Springfield, Ohio, located about 50 miles east of Columbus, has many of the characteristics of a typical Midwestern town. It has a history of manufacturing prosperity followed by a period of decline, a story common to many cities like it.
But in recent years, Springfield has become one of the most unique cities in the country, thanks to a surge in Haitian immigrants who suddenly reversed decades of population decline.
Estimates vary on the number of Haitian immigrants who have moved to Springfield over the past few years, but most have settled between 15,000 and 20,000, a significant population increase for a town that had fewer than 60,000 residents as of the 2020 census. Many of the immigrants came to the United States with temporary protected status, allowing them to live and work in the country for a limited period of time.
Ex-Congressman Says Haitian Refugees 'Don't Understand the Law' Amid Deadly Accidents and Culture Clash
A sign welcoming drivers to the city of Springfield, Ohio. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
But as more and more people flee into the city, tensions between locals and the sudden influx of newcomers have begun to surface, most recently after a school bus carrying dozens of children collided with a minivan, injuring many on board and killing 11-year-old Aiden Clark.
Longtime local residents have continued to voice their dissatisfaction ever since, attending city council meetings to air complaints about dangerous road conditions they say are caused by an influx of drivers unfamiliar with local laws and norms.
Springfield has received even more attention this week, first with Vance's appearance on X, where he claimed people in the city have had their pets “kidnapped and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country.”
The next day, responding to a question about immigration and border security, Trump similarly claimed that Haitian refugees in Springfield were “eating dogs. They're coming in, they're eating cats.”
“They're eating the pets of people who live there. This is what's going on in our country, and it's a shame,” Trump responded.
Rose Groot Creole Restaurant in Springfield, Ohio is a popular Haitian restaurant that opened in August 2023.
Springfield pastors speak out about Haitian refugee issue: 'The suffering is real'
To date, the allegations have not been confirmed, and local authorities in Springfield have vehemently denied that any such incidents occurred, but they do shine yet another bright light on the Ohio town.
Still, struggles continue as the town continues to adjust to a new reality. Kyle Kahler, a former Ohio House member and Republican from Springfield who is now running for state senator to represent the area, acknowledged that the influx of newcomers has been a bit of a shock for the town.
“It's a bit of a shock to see almost 20,000 people coming into a community of 60,000. There are issues between the people here and the people who are coming in,” Koehler told Fox News Digital.
Koehler blamed the divide on cultural differences, saying the sudden clash between long-time local residents and refugees from other countries “created some problems.”
Former Ohio Rep. Kyle Kahler (Fox News)
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“They don't understand the law, they don't understand some of our customs, and we don't understand some of their customs, and that clash and the overwhelming number of people all at once is really causing problems,” Koehler said.
But Koehler also emphasized how welcoming Springfield residents are and argued the town has a lot to offer.
“Our town is great,” Koehler said.
