Trump Sticks to False Claims About Haitian Migrants

Former President Donald Trump recently defended his false claims about Haitian immigrants during a Univision town hall with undecided Latino voters. When confronted about his statement that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people's pets, Trump insisted he was merely reporting what others had said. He added that these migrants were also eating other things they shouldn't. During his last debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump had amplified rumors that suggested Springfield immigrants were abducting and eating neighbors' pets. He even referenced television reports where people claimed their pets were eaten by migrants. However, local law enforcement and city officials have categorically rejected these claims. This misinformation seems to have triggered death threats and hoax bomb threats, leading to the temporary closure of schools and city buildings, and forcing hospitals into lockdown.

The origin of these claims can be traced back to a Facebook post that was shared widely by right-wing and conspiracy theory accounts. Posts from Elon Musk and Trump's running mate JD Vance gained significant traction. In response, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who supports Trump, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times defending Springfield's immigrants. He noted that these immigrants are living legally and have given the city an economic boost. Trump's assertion that Springfield has added nearly 30,000 migrants is also false. Estimates suggest there are only around 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants living in the county, with a significant number coming from Haiti. Most have legal authorization to live and work in the U.S. Past political and humanitarian crises in Haiti have driven this immigration. According to the 2020 Census, Springfield's population is roughly 60,000, with only about 2 percent being born outside the U.S.

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