SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Leaders of the Haitian community in an Ohio town that has attracted national attention over longtime residents' claims of disturbing incidents involving refugees argue that America's history means the country is ready to accept more immigrants.
“America is the world's pioneer in democracy, and humanity is [rights] “They say Haitians should be respected, and treat people with respect and dignity,” Byles D'Aussainville, executive director of the Haitian Community Outreach and Assistance Center in Springfield, told Fox News Digital. “I think our American forefathers were very clear that America should be a country that is open to everyone.”
The comments come as Springfield, Ohio, located about 50 miles west of Columbus, has recently been in the national spotlight, especially after comments last week from both the top Republican presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump, and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
“Right now we are seeing reports of pets being kidnapped and eaten by people who should not be in this country,” Vance said in a post last week on X. “Where are the border agents?”
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Viles D'Aussainville is executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, Ohio. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Trump made a similar claim while answering a question about immigration during last week's debate.
“They're eating dogs, they're eating people who come in, they're eating cats,” Trump said. “They're eating the pets of the people who live there. This is what's going on in our country, and it's unfortunate.”
While the pet-eating claims have yet to be verified and have been vehemently denied by local leaders, many longtime locals have expressed frustration with the situation in Springfield.
After decades of population decline, with a population of fewer than 60,000 as of the 2020 census, the town has seen an influx of thousands of Haitian immigrants in just a few years, straining resources and causing tensions between longtime residents and newcomers.
“I was a little shocked to see almost 20,000 people coming into a community of 60,000. There are issues between the people who live here and the people who are coming in,” Kyle Kahler, a former Republican state representative who is now running for state senate, told Fox News Digital.
The influx of Haitians has raised major safety concerns for Springfield residents.
Rose Groot Creole Restaurant in Springfield, Ohio is a popular Haitian restaurant that opened in August 2023. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
Local residents have particularly complained about road safety, claiming that immigrants with little or no driving experience in their home countries are allowed onto the roads freely, creating dangerous situations on the roads.
“We're seeing a really crazy amount of car accidents,” Koehler said, “not just in terms of the number, but the severity. If you're on a road with a 35 mph speed limit and you have a car sitting on its hood, that's five or six accidents a week. It makes you wonder.”
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Those tensions appeared to come to a peak in August 2023 when a bus carrying dozens of local elementary school students collided with a minivan, injuring more than 20 students and killing 11-year-old Aiden Clark.
Dorsainville acknowledged that the incident had increased tensions in Springfield but expressed optimism that things were “starting to get back to normal” — until Trump and Vance brought the community back into the spotlight.
However, D'Orsainville acknowledged that some tension remains within the community.
“There are people who believe we're here to take away their benefits, their property, take their jobs and things like that,” Dolsainville said, arguing that much of the disconnect between members of his community and longtime locals stems from cultural differences.
Shown here is the Haitian Community Center in Springfield, Ohio. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
“That's why we at this nonprofit work on doing intercultural education. We hold events that help Americans understand our culture,” Dorsainville said. “Sometimes we hold these kinds of Q&As with our American friends and we're looking at whether we can do more programs to educate our American friends here. We also have programs to educate Haitians about American culture and what they can do to integrate into the community.”
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But Dorsainville also stressed that most members of the community are friendly and welcoming, and that local leaders have worked hard to address any tensions in Springfield.
“Officials are addressing this issue and are taking a comprehensive approach,” Dorsainville said. “It's a welcoming city. We have officials who are willing to work with immigrants and local leaders. … Springfield is a very welcoming city, apart from those who think we shouldn't be here.”
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