Residents in Springfield, Ohio react to accusations of immigrants abducting and eating pets

Former President Donald Trump has amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets. It's another instance of the anti-immigrant rhetoric Trump has used in his campaigns.

Officials say there’s no evidence that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are abducting and eating pets.

But during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump on Tuesday night mentioned Springfield.

He said immigrants are taking over the city and “they're eating the pets of the people that live there."

Rose-Thamar Joseph, an employee at the Haitian Community Help and Support Center said that Haitian families living in the area have called her office and are scared.

"Some of them are talking about leaving Springfield. Some of them are scared for their life," Joseph said.

Sophia Pierrilus, a Haitian woman and immigrant advocate living in Columbus, said it's all political. "My view is that I think that's their way to use Haitian(s) as a scapegoat to bring some kind of chaos in America, because I don't see the reason why you should pinpoint a ethnicity and calling them certain names."

Pierrilus said many of the Haitians who have come to Springfield are professionals. "They are just looking for a way to integrate properly for them to actually use their skills for the benefit of America, not their country."

"I would have loved to see more of our local governments to step up and say something about this. I would love to see more of our federal governments to step up and say something. I would love to see more of our leaders, local leaders, Haitian leaders, African Americans to say something, because I'm watching," she said.

Officials have said they've seen no evidence of the claims that Trump and his allies are using to fan racist stereotypes about Black and brown immigrants.

Harris called Trump's comment “extreme."

Long-time Springfield resident Chris Hazel said that he's familiar with the neighborhoods, including the park, where the pet and goose abductions were supposed to have happened. He called the idea "preposterous," because Springfield is "a community that loves the animals."

"It reminds me of when people used to accuse others and outsiders as cannibals," he said. "It's almost, it's dehumanizing a community, and saying the Haitians, as opposed to my neighbor, that just paints the picture."

Chantal Hutchinson, a Springfield resident, said the new Haitian population has put pressure on existing social services in the city. "You know, now I see more Americans homeless and without jobs, without money, without housing. Even families with little children, and I feel like that should be addressed."

[jsballeck]

Puting 20, 000 people with a different culture into a small community is insane.

[sinistar]

If residents like him are credible, why arent the residents who say it happened just as credible?

[KCMedia]

Martin Luther King certainly did not fight for this. We can be empathetic to Haitians circumstances but placing 20, 000 in lot a town of 50, 000 residence is not fair to that community.

[memyself]

Ramdon guy on the street saying its not true is somehow proof? THAT is preposterous.

[greypoupon]

Martin Luther never said 20, 000 illegals should be brought to a town of 60000

[chrisferUtoob]

Follow the money.... It won't be pretty. Adding 20, 000 to a locale with 60, 000 is beyond insane. Someone got paid.

[JeanAlesiagain]

I'm pretty sure MLK would have been against illegal immigration. He was a man with integrity and enormous respect for the laws. He would have said, they should come legally

[sammy]

They’re scared for their life, but they’re the ones doing the harm, driving without licenses and knowing the rules, they already killed two people one a child

[momjeansasmr]

Interviewing the immigrant ADVOCATE is not a reliable source to find out if these rumors are true… everyone watching this should watch the town hall meeting and listen to the residents express their grievances. Even if they aren’t eating animals like some say they are, these residents deserve better than this. It’s a broken system.

[normakeeley]

Vietnamese were eating cats, ducks and koi at the Japanese gardens in san jose ca. So why wouldn't civil war haitians not eat dogs cats, duck, koi .

[richardwalker]

So cause he thinks it's crazy can't be true?

[blokcomNativeFaces]

Honey, Martin Luther King was talking about African-Americans NOT invader-migrant populations

[nossenkanter]

"Martin Luther King fought for unprotected borders and mass illegal immigration and unchecked crime." - 🤡🤡🤡

[CaptainRedbeard-qdgk]

The Haitian quoting Martin Luther King - the entitlement is unreal.

[Chiefkahuna]

DeWine approved it all. It has happened to no other state. He's a bleading heart RINO. There is no way the Feds could have put the Haitians in Springfield, without his signature. Look how defensive he has been acting.

[alecjohnson]

MLK jr. Fought for judgement of character, not judgement of nationality

[NoamPitlick-bgkw]

Who unloaded 20K of these migrants in Springfield? Oh yeah, the American government.

[justinaldous]

Martin Luther king did not fight for illegal immigrants to overrun communities. 😊

[aycarambas]

You know its a problem when even black Americans are unhappy with the situation.

[crownmode]

MLK did not fight to eat cats 🐈 and ducks 🦆 😂😂