“We will do large deportations in Springfield, Ohio,” Trump said. (File)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to carry out mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from the city of Springfield, Ohio, despite the fact that most of them are in the country legally.
Springfield has been embroiled in controversy after false claims circulated on social media alleging that Haitian immigrants were consuming household pets.
“We will do large deportations in Springfield, Ohio,” Trump declared during a press conference at his golf resort near Los Angeles.
While the majority of the 15,000 Haitians in Springfield have legal status, Trump’s focus on mass deportations typically targets those who are in the country illegally.
Following anonymous bomb threats, schools in Springfield have been on high alert, with two elementary schools evacuated and a middle school closed for the second consecutive day.
President Joe Biden condemned the attacks on the Haitian community, emphasizing the need to stop such discriminatory actions.
In response to the crisis in Springfield, the Biden administration granted Temporary Protected Status to hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the U.S., recognizing the challenges they face due to gang violence and food insecurity in Haiti.
Trump has used the situation in Springfield to advocate for stricter immigration policies, citing economic benefits but also social service strains caused by the Haitian influx.
Haitian community leaders expressed concern over Trump’s statements, fearing that his rhetoric could incite violence and escalate tensions in Springfield.
City officials in Springfield confirmed that there have been no verified reports of Haitians consuming household pets, although some residents have been victims of crimes like theft.
(This article is based on a syndicated feed and has not been altered by the NDTV team.)
