Senator JD Vance has been spreading the racist lie that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are stealing local pets for food, despite this claim being widely debunked. Vance admitted that he consciously decided to “create stories” about this unsubstantiated issue in order to get American media attention. He repeated these claims on both CNN and NBC, and fueled fearmongering along with former President Donald Trump about the city’s increased Haitian population. Vance has been spreading unsubstantiated claims about immigrants contributing to rising crime and spreading disease, which has historically dehumanized immigrants.
Local officials in Springfield have refuted Vance’s claims, highlighting the positive impact of the approximately 20,000 mostly legal Haitian immigrants who have settled in the city and contributed to its economy. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has pledged $2.5 million to help the city accommodate this population surge. Despite official statements debunking the racist rumors, Vance continues to amplify them. When pressed by CNN’s Dana Bash about visiting Springfield, Vance evaded the question and admitted to creating narratives about the dangerous rumor to get media attention focused on it.
After Vance’s and Trump’s perpetuation of this racist lie, Springfield officials and residents, including Haitian immigrants, have reported feeling unsafe. Trump even threatened mass deportations of Haitians to Venezuela, although Springfield’s Haitian population is not from that country. Following bomb threats at multiple schools and City Hall, Vance urged his followers not to be afraid to discuss the issue. When confronted about potential violence in the community, Vance reacted angrily before condemning the threats. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue emphasized the harm caused by false claims from politicians like Vance.
A woman in Springfield who initially spread the baseless claim about Haitian immigrants stealing pets has admitted she had no firsthand knowledge of any such incident and regrets the fallout. She did not intend for the rumor to escalate, and expressed empathy for the Haitian community, stating she belongs to LGBTQ and mixed-race communities. President Joe Biden condemned the conspiracy surrounding Haitian immigrants during a dinner with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, emphasizing that any president should reject hatred and not incite it. Haitian immigrants in Springfield are facing unwarranted fear and discrimination as a result of the misinformation spread by politicians like Vance and Trump.
