Like Springfield, Ohio, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, is facing growing problems as Haitian immigrants flood into the small town.
While the media has focused on the plight of Springfield, Ohio, and the recent influx of Haitian immigrants that has descended on the small town, other small towns are experiencing similar problems, including Charleroi, a town in western Pennsylvania on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh.
According to the activist group America 2100, the rural town has seen a 2,000 percent increase in its Haitian immigrant population, resulting in a surge in crime and traffic accidents.
Residents have posted numerous reports on social media of migrants attacking people on the streets, robbing people, stealing cars and causing traffic accidents across the region.
WPXI-TV reported in March that local schools are being stretched to their limits by the growing number of immigrant children, as administrators and teachers struggle to educate immigrant children, many of whom don't speak English and some of whom have never attended school since they were young.
One year 11 student told the station a big problem was that many migrant students attend free schools but aren't actually learning anything because they don't understand the content of the lessons.
“The biggest problem that Haitians have is they don't know what they're being told. To a Haitian, it's like blah blah blah blah, and they don't understand because they just sit in class and listen and don't say anything,” said the child, who is also a Haitian immigrant. said.
Charleroi Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich noted that it costs schools hundreds of thousands of dollars to accommodate new students.
“Last year alone we had over $400,000, so we had to add two more ELLs. [English language learner] “We added teachers, ELL coaches for teachers, a dean of instruction and an interpreter,” Zelich told WPIX.
Zelich added that the school expects to spend another $300,000 next year and needs more aid from the state.
The principal is also concerned that as the number of immigrants increases, the school will no longer have space to accommodate them, and that city officials have no plans to build a bigger school anytime soon.
America 2100 recently spoke with Charleroi city council member Larry Selasi, who warned that the influx of immigrants is overwhelming the city.
“What's sad about this is, honestly, I don't care, I'll be honest with you. Frankly, whoever is behind this and if there's just one reason they brought migrants to Charleroi, I'd like to see them for 60 seconds,” he said. [to ask] Where is the money that is supposed to come to Charleroi?”
Ceraski concluded that the burden of immigration was draining the town's resources.
“Why are we not being funded at all? And we can't even make ends meet in our budget,” Selasi said of the city. “So where are we going to get the extra revenue to pay them? And then we have to do all these things to accommodate the migrants. It's ridiculous.”
Former President Donald Trump has sounded the alarm about the problems plaguing Charleroi and the pressures the town faces.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Hustonor the Society of Truth Warner Todd Houston
