Springfield resident claims Haitian immigrants are ‘decapitating and eating ducks in the park’ as Ohio town rages over immigrant explosion

A Springfield, Ohio, resident claimed that Haitian immigrants have been decapitating ducks in public parks and eating them.

The aggrieved man made the claim during a city commission meeting last month to address the influx of legal Haitian immigrants, which has revitalized the local economy but also sparked controversy among locals.

“I really challenge you to come out here and do something,” he said at the meeting.

‘These Haitians are crashing into garbage cans, crashing into buildings… they are overturning cars in the middle of the streets…’

The man added: “They are in the park, they grab the ducks by the neck, cut off their heads and take them away. They are eating them.”

Reports of migrants eating animals such as ducks remain unconfirmed.

“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” the city of Springfield told DailyMail.com in a statement on Monday.

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.

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.

“I think it’s sad that some people are using this as an opportunity to spread hate or fear,” Jason Via, deputy director of public safety and operations, told NPR.

‘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.”

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.

During the meeting with commissioners, a local woman asked local officials to make some changes, after revealing that she is being evicted from her home of 45 years due to immigration activity.

“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.”

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.