An Ohio woman is calling on local officials to make some changes after revealing she is being forced out of her home of 45 years due to immigration activity.
Last month, the aggrieved resident addressed the city commission in Springfield, where an influx of legal Haitian immigrants has revitalized the local economy but also sparked controversy among residents.
“I can’t stand what I see anymore,” the woman said, her voice shaking with emotion. “My neighborhood is not safe anymore.”
The resident, who gripped the sides of the lectern as she spoke, continued: “I have the homeless people who were trying to camp out and I’ve made concessions to them.”
An Ohio woman is calling on local officials to make some changes after revealing she is being evicted from her home of 45 years due to immigration activity.
She said she “tried to help” these individuals, so that they would not try to “illegally occupy” her property.
“It’s very unsafe,” she lamented. “I have men who don’t speak English in my front yard, yelling at me, throwing mattresses… (and) throwing trash in my front yard.”
“Look at me,” said the disgruntled resident, pointing at herself. “I weigh 43 kilos. I couldn’t defend myself if I had to.”
Due to her fears, the woman revealed that her ‘elderly’ husband had decided that they would leave their home of 45 years.
“He said, ‘Guess what? It’s time to pack up and move.'”
Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate after droves of Haitian immigrants flocked to the city in 2020 to fill job vacancies.
The woman then addressed city officials directly and said, “I don’t know what they expect from us as citizens.”
“I understand that they are here under temporary protected status and that you are protecting them,” he continued.
“Who protects us if we protect them?” he asked.
“I want to leave this city,” he said frankly. But before leaving the podium, he added: “Please give me a reason to stay.”
Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate after droves of Haitian immigrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill vacant jobs.
Haitians, who were already in the country legally, moved to the city and were willing to do the manual labor that the locals were not enthusiastic about.
At a city commission meeting, angry locals used the forum to express their feelings about Haitians, making several wild claims in the process.
Within a few years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, swelling Springfield’s population, which was just 58,000 in 2020.
Haitians had Social Security numbers and work permits, paid taxes and lived in houses that sat empty and boarded up as the city shrank.
However, their arrival put a strain on medical services and the education system.
After filling empty homes, later arrivals also contributed to a housing crisis fueled by landlords who prioritized immigrants who would pay more, rather than low-income locals who received government subsidies.
Tensions rose after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant who strayed into the wrong lane killed 11-year-old Aiden Clark on August 22 last year.
One bitter resident even claimed that local car insurance rates were rising because immigrants don’t know how to drive.
Tensions rose after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant who strayed into the wrong lane killed 11-year-old Aiden Clark on August 22 last year.
At a city commission meeting on July 30, angry residents used the forum to express their feelings about Haitians, making several wild claims in the process.
One vocal resident, Glenda Bailey, a local Republican committeewoman, claimed Haitians were “occupying our land” and had low IQs.
“They have become occupiers. What they have done is replace the population of Springfield,” he said, warning that they would soon become the majority and drive out everyone else.
Others falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants brought with them drugs, crime, theft and disease, all of which were refuted by city officials.
Springfield police also dismissed claims that immigrants caused problems, saying property crimes were only increasing in line with national trends.
One vocal resident, local Republican committeewoman Glenda Bailey, claimed Haitians were “occupying our land” and had low IQs.
Workers at McGregor Metal Company in Springfield, which hired 30 Haitian immigrants to its 300-person workforce
There was also no evidence of Haitian gangs in the city.
“I think it’s sad that some people are using this as an opportunity to spread hate or fear,” said Deputy Director of Public Safety and Operations Jason Via. National Public Radio.
‘We receive reports like ‘Haitians are killing ducks in many of our parks’ or ‘Haitians are eating vegetables straight from the supermarket aisles.’
“And we haven’t really seen any of that. It’s really frustrating. As a community, it doesn’t help us move forward.”
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