SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Residents of the suburban Ohio town now in the national spotlight say they've struggled for years with the effects of mass immigration, including a housing shortage, an increase in car accidents and other crime charges.

The recent wave of national attention is Social media posts make headlines A Springfield, Ohio, cat was found hanging from a branch near a Haitian neighbor's home, sparking rumors that it was being butchered for consumption — rumors that were fueled by President Donald Trump's comments during Tuesday's presidential debate that he also saw pets, dogs and cats, being eaten, citing claims he had seen on television. (Related article: Illegal immigrant re-enters US after being convicted of child sex abuse and deported)

The Daily Caller News Foundation visited Springfield and interviewed several residents about the situation, and while no locals said they'd witnessed anyone eating their pets, they were quick to say the influx of immigrants is problematic for a variety of reasons, from first-hand accounts of a housing crisis to witnessing public molestation.

“We had 25,000 people inundated into our little quiet community here in Springfield,” Baron Seelig, a local non-denominational pastor who helps provide meals and support to the town's homeless community, told DCNF. Seelig said the growing immigrant population has made it extremely difficult for the homeless to find housing.

“We have 55,000 people here and another 25,000 have been sent in,” Seelig said, referring to the tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants who have settled in the town over the past few years. “Our resources are being depleted and people are on edge.”

A pastor at a local tow yard claimed most of the cars in the lot are Haitians who “don't know how to drive,” which is why accidents happen every day. A nearby tow yard worker, who asked not to be named, confirmed that there has been an increase in accidents over the past year.

Seelig has been outspoken in saying the housing crisis is being driven by population growth, and has made his case directly at City Council meetings, but he and others have been quick to denounce the presence of “out-of-town” voices aligned with racist groups using the crisis to push their own agendas. I tried to connect Some groups are concerned about the influx of immigrants.

This is Springfield, Ohio, and one resident says he's never witnessed a pet being eaten, but he's grateful for the national attention because his town needs help. pic.twitter.com/xO48Hwm7Ii

— Jason Hopkins (@jasonhopkinsdc) September 12, 2024

Local criticism of immigration in Springfield began to grow after a Haitian national, Hermanio Joseph, drove a minivan without a license and swerved in front of a school bus. August 2023The incident resulted in the death of 11-year-old Aiden Clark and injuries to about a dozen other students on their first day of school. 13+ years He's in prison because of an accident.

Long before Springfield drew national attention, local leaders were sounding the alarm about the growing impact of absorbing such a large population in a relatively short period of time.

Springfield Mayor Brian Heck said: letter In July, the city of Springfield asked Republican Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Tim Scott of Florida for federal aid. In the past four years alone, 20,000 Haitians have resettled in the city, creating a housing crisis that the city will not be able to meet unless assistance is provided, Heck's letter said.

Rental prices in town are moderate, according to Zillow data. It rose sharply Over the past year, the cost of living has become more expensive in areas historically known for their low cost of living.

For Springfield's poorest residents, the housing crisis is already here.

“We've been here since about March,” said a homeless woman who had just arrived at a local soup kitchen with her daughter to get a free meal. “We've been looking for a place to stay, but we just can't find anywhere because Haitians always take all the housing.”

The homeless woman has struggled to find housing in Springfield and directly blames the influx of immigrants into town. pic.twitter.com/CmxyKuuLQy

— Jason Hopkins (@jasonhopkinsdc) September 12, 2024

“People like me, my daughter and my husband can't find a place to live because all the housing has been taken over by them,” the woman continued. “I've never seen a Haitian in my life, I never knew what a Haitian was, until I came to Springfield. That's ridiculous.”

Soup kitchen in Springfield, Ohio. DCNF image.

Besides bad driving, other common complaints locals make about their new Haitian neighbors are late-night parties and public debauchery. One man who spoke to the DCNF, James, claimed that from his home he had seen immigrants picking up women and having sex in public, sometimes in front of their children.

Springfield police did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF about the increase in traffic accidents, public sex and pet animal consumption. However, local police Announced on Monday There have been no reports of pets being stolen or eaten.

The local man claims he witnessed the indecent assault outside his Springfield home, adding that it happens “every day.” pic.twitter.com/rMBHIwVHy2

— Jason Hopkins (@jasonhopkinsdc) September 12, 2024

Haitian nationals enjoy benefits not currently available to many other foreign nationals living in the U.S. The Biden-Harris administration announced in June an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 300,000 Haitians, giving them deportation protection in the U.S. as their home country continues to be gripped by turmoil.

The White House Already specified The Haitians received TPS in 2021 and renewed it for late 2022. The latest order gives Haitians deportation protections until early 2026, according to the announcement.

The Haitians are part of a mass parole scheme known as the CHNV program, which allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly into Haiti legally. The program was temporarily suspended after widespread findings of fraud by applicants, but has since been resumed.

Housing needs are not the only issues reported during the Clark County Commission meeting. July MeetingOne witness testified that emergency delivery increased by about 10 percent because Haitians culturally wait until the last minute to go to the hospital only when they are about to die, not to give birth.

The crisis in Springfield has caught the attention of state leaders, with the Ohio attorney general announcing on Monday that he is investigating ways the Biden-Harris administration could block large numbers of migrants from resettling in the state. Republican Gov. Mark DeWine Announced On Wednesday, he announced he would send $2.5 million to help Springfield address the crisis and deal with dangerous driving situations.

“Springfield has experienced an increase in dangerous driving by inexperienced Haitian drivers and other drivers who ignore traffic laws. To address this, Governor DeWine has directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to assist the Springfield Police Department in their traffic enforcement efforts,” the governor's announcement read.

As for Springfield city officials, it was not immediately clear how they would respond to the sudden national attention, and a city department spokesman did not respond to an emailed request for comment from the DCNF.

Additionally, city officials instructed the DCNF to write their contact information down on a piece of paper and then leave if approached at City Hall.

Some point out that Springfield had problems even before the immigrants arrived.

In 2022, the town's poverty rate became double the national average as a result of the large influx of Haitians. According to NPR. Seelig said Springfield has “one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country” in recent years. He reiterated that the city cannot address the crisis alone.

“We are tired. Please help us,” Seelig said when asked what message he wanted to send to the public. “Send help. Help us solve this problem.”

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