Trump vows to deport Haitians from Springfield, Ohio
US presidential candidate Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised to deport Haitians from the Ohio city. This will happen if he wins the election, reports Reuters.
This refers to the mass deportation of Haitian immigrants from the city of Springfield, Ohio.
“We will do large deportations in Springfield, Ohio,” Trump said.
The city reportedly found itself at the center of a social media storm for several days after right-wing agitators seized on false claims that people who arrived from Haiti were eating pets.
Trump, in turn, did not repeat the statement he made during the September 10 presidential debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. At that time, he said that immigrants eat dogs and cats, but his words were widely ridiculed.
Reuters writes that most of the 15,000 Haitians in Springfield are in the United States legally, on legal grounds. And Trump's long-standing promise of mass deportations usually refers to those who are in the country illegally.
In addition, Trump cited the tensions in Springfield as another example of the need for a tough immigration policy. The influx of Haitians contributed to economic growth, but at the same time put a strain on social services.
“I'm angry about illegal Haitian migrants taking over Springfield, Ohio. You see that mess, don't you? I'm angry about young American girls being raped and murdered by savage criminal aliens that come into our country very easily, but very illegally,” he said on Friday.
According to ABC News, two elementary schools in Springfield were evacuated on Friday and one high school was closed after the community received anonymous bomb threats for the second day in a row.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden called for an end to the attacks on the Haitian community.
“It's simply wrong. There's no place in America. It has to stop,” Biden said.
The agency recalls that in June, the Biden administration introduced temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the United States. This is a ten-year program that protects legal immigrants from deportation and gives them work permits.
Reacting to Trump, leaders of the Haitian community across the United States said that the GOP nominee's remarks could put lives at risk and further exacerbate tensions in Springfield.
“We need help, not hate,” said Springfield Mayor Rob Rue.
City officials also say they have not received any credible reports of anyone eating pets. Karen Graves, a spokesperson for the city, said she was unaware of any recent hate crimes against Haitians. However, she added that some of them have been victims of crimes such as property theft.
