The ripple effects of President-elect Trump’s victory are being felt across the nation, but nowhere more dramatically than in Springfield, Ohio. The town, home to a sizable Haitian migrant population, is reportedly seeing a mass exodus as migrants fear deportation under the incoming administration.
The panic stems from Trump’s blunt campaign rhetoric, which included a bizarre and highly publicized claim during a September debate: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Margery Koveleski, a Springfield resident with Haitian roots, told The Guardian that many migrants are packing up and leaving. “Some folks don’t have credit cards or access to the internet, and they want to buy a bus ticket or a plane ticket, so we help them book a flight,” she explained. The fear is palpable, with businesses reporting plummeting sales as their Haitian customers vanish. One store owner is even considering relocating his business to Chicago or New York.
Jacob Payen, co-founder of the Haitian Community Alliance, echoed the concerns. “People are fully aware of the election result, and that is why they are leaving,” he said, noting that some families have already fled to places like New Jersey, Boston, or even Canada. Others are weighing a return to Brazil, where many sought temporary asylum before making their way to the U.S.
Adding fuel to the fire is Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar,” who has made it crystal clear that deportation enforcement will be a top priority. Homan recently told potential deportees: “We know who you are, and we’re gonna come and find you. If you wanna self-deport, you should self-deport.” For those with criminal records, the message was even starker: “You get no grace period. So we’re coming for you.”
TOM HOMAN: “Criminals and gang members get no grace period. While we’re going after the criminals, if you want to self deport, you can self deport, that’s fine. It would allow you to get your affairs in order, which is reasonable. We know who you are, and we’re going to come… pic.twitter.com/4i1VNLw0Ou
— Autism Capital (@AutismCapital) November 12, 2024
The Haitian community in Springfield isn’t waiting to see if Homan follows through. Migrants are reportedly heading to cities like Dayton, hoping to be less visible to law enforcement. Homan, however, doesn’t appear concerned about logistical challenges. “They found their way across the world to come to the greatest nation on earth, and they can find their way home,” he quipped, adding that plane tickets would be provided for those who couldn’t arrange their own travel.
It’s a grim reality for Springfield’s Haitian population, but a telling preview of the hardline immigration policies the Trump administration intends to implement. While Trump’s bombastic style often strays into hyperbole, the real-world consequences for vulnerable communities like Springfield’s Haitians are anything but exaggerated.
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