Ohio Sending Troopers, $2.5 Million to Springfield Amid Haitian Migrants Influx

Published: 9/11/2024, 10:14:36 PM EDT

Ohio Sending Troopers, $2.5 Million to Springfield Amid Haitian Migrants Influx — A sign hangs from a street light at the intersection of Main Street and Fountain Avenue in Springfield, Ohio, on Sept. 11, 2024. (Paul Vernon/AP Photo)

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday announced that he would deploy state troopers and commit $2.5 million to Springfield, a city that is facing a surge of Haitian migrants.

Thousands of Haitians have flooded the area over the last several years, and the influx has created major health and traffic issues in the city, according to the Republican governor, who blamed the federal government for its lack of action on the matter.

"This afternoon, I outlined the support the state has been providing Springfield and Clark County related to the surge of Haitian migrants into the community," the governor wrote on X. "I also announced plans to expand primary healthcare access and traffic enforcement in the area. As we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants. The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away."

Health Care

The governor outlined the details of his plan, which includes the expansion of primary health care services. He pledged to commit $2.5 million toward expanding primary care access for "everyone living in Springfield."

According to DeWine, the influx of Haitians to Springfield and Clark County has significantly impacted local primary care providers. An increased number of patients and the need for more translation services have posed challenges for those trying to provide care.

The governor stated in a press release that migrants from Haiti generally have had little to no health care services prior to arriving in the United States. Their lack of health care access also means many are not vaccinated, the governor said.

Traffic Issues

DeWine said that the influx of Haitian migrants in the city have prompted major public safety concerns.

To address the increase in dangerous driving "by inexperienced Haitian drivers" and others who disregard traffic laws, the governor directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to help the Springfield Police Department with traffic enforcement.

Troopers will begin the traffic enforcement starting Thursday morning.

Springfield in the National Spotlight

The city has been cast in the national spotlight as stories of Haitian migrants eating pets in the city spread online. The topic even featured at the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and 45th President Donald Trump.

The former president used the city of Springfield to point to the dangers of illegal immigration.

“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said.

Moderators told Trump that the rumors are false. DeWine in his announcement did not mention the controversial pet-eating claims.

Meanwhile, Harris dismissed his comments about Haitian migrants eating dogs and cats during the debate. She laughed and described his comments as "extreme."

Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, has acknowledged the possibility the claims are not true while also highlighting the issue of illegal immigration.

“In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants," Vance wrote in a post on X. "It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false. Do you know what's confirmed? That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here."

Vance was likely referring to an 11-year-old child who was killed in a bus crash in Springfield. The incident involved a Haitian immigrant driver who was not licensed to drive in Ohio.