Ohio’s Haitians Made Headlines in 2024 Election, But Will They Head Home in 2026?
Every delay has consequences.
The town of Springfield, Ohio, unexpectedly found itself in the national spotlight in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. At question was the town’s sizable community of Haitian migrants, which had grown mightily during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
And Springfield might soon be in the national spotlight once again because Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States is set to end on Feb. 3.
Will these Haitians head home, or will it fall to the Trump administration to enforce the law and remove the migrants?
Springfield in the Spotlight
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” President Donald Trump, then the GOP presidential nominee, said at the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Democrat nominee and former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, chuckled.
The president’s comments on the debate stage perhaps marked the zenith in the contrast between Trump and Harris on the issue of immigration.
The day before the debate, then-Republican nominee for vice president JD Vance posted on X, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.
Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 9, 2024
While the story of Haitian immigrants eating pets and other animals remains controversial, what is not disputed is how the influx of Haitian migrants strained city resources.
Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, researched the issues in Springfield and went to see them with his own eyes.
Hankinson spoke to The Daily Signal about his findings.
While in Springfield, Hankinson visited a county services building. “There were a lot of people in line to sign on for welfare benefits. Every single one was Haitian,” he said.
This was unsurprising to Hankinson. Speaking in terms of “net fiscal effects,” Hankinson further explained that “if you look at unskilled workers who don’t speak English, who have dependents, they almost always are a net loss to the fisc. in the short term, [though] maybe their children or grandchildren will be contributors.”
“But in all the studies that I’ve seen show that, if you’re a 30-year-old rocket scientist with good health who speaks English, you’re going to be a net contributor of half a million dollars over your lifetime,” Hankinson added. “If you’re a 25-year-old or 50-year-old unskilled laborer, you don’t speak English, you have dependents, you’re going to be a net taker for probably the same amount of money.”
While Hankinson acknowledged that many Haitians may be employed and …
Every delay has consequences.
The town of Springfield, Ohio, unexpectedly found itself in the national spotlight in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. At question was the town’s sizable community of Haitian migrants, which had grown mightily during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
And Springfield might soon be in the national spotlight once again because Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States is set to end on Feb. 3.
Will these Haitians head home, or will it fall to the Trump administration to enforce the law and remove the migrants?
Springfield in the Spotlight
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” President Donald Trump, then the GOP presidential nominee, said at the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Democrat nominee and former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, chuckled.
The president’s comments on the debate stage perhaps marked the zenith in the contrast between Trump and Harris on the issue of immigration.
The day before the debate, then-Republican nominee for vice president JD Vance posted on X, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.
Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 9, 2024
While the story of Haitian immigrants eating pets and other animals remains controversial, what is not disputed is how the influx of Haitian migrants strained city resources.
Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, researched the issues in Springfield and went to see them with his own eyes.
Hankinson spoke to The Daily Signal about his findings.
While in Springfield, Hankinson visited a county services building. “There were a lot of people in line to sign on for welfare benefits. Every single one was Haitian,” he said.
This was unsurprising to Hankinson. Speaking in terms of “net fiscal effects,” Hankinson further explained that “if you look at unskilled workers who don’t speak English, who have dependents, they almost always are a net loss to the fisc. in the short term, [though] maybe their children or grandchildren will be contributors.”
“But in all the studies that I’ve seen show that, if you’re a 30-year-old rocket scientist with good health who speaks English, you’re going to be a net contributor of half a million dollars over your lifetime,” Hankinson added. “If you’re a 25-year-old or 50-year-old unskilled laborer, you don’t speak English, you have dependents, you’re going to be a net taker for probably the same amount of money.”
While Hankinson acknowledged that many Haitians may be employed and …
Ohio’s Haitians Made Headlines in 2024 Election, But Will They Head Home in 2026?
Every delay has consequences.
The town of Springfield, Ohio, unexpectedly found itself in the national spotlight in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. At question was the town’s sizable community of Haitian migrants, which had grown mightily during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
And Springfield might soon be in the national spotlight once again because Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States is set to end on Feb. 3.
Will these Haitians head home, or will it fall to the Trump administration to enforce the law and remove the migrants?
Springfield in the Spotlight
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” President Donald Trump, then the GOP presidential nominee, said at the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Democrat nominee and former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, chuckled.
The president’s comments on the debate stage perhaps marked the zenith in the contrast between Trump and Harris on the issue of immigration.
The day before the debate, then-Republican nominee for vice president JD Vance posted on X, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.
Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 9, 2024
While the story of Haitian immigrants eating pets and other animals remains controversial, what is not disputed is how the influx of Haitian migrants strained city resources.
Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, researched the issues in Springfield and went to see them with his own eyes.
Hankinson spoke to The Daily Signal about his findings.
While in Springfield, Hankinson visited a county services building. “There were a lot of people in line to sign on for welfare benefits. Every single one was Haitian,” he said.
This was unsurprising to Hankinson. Speaking in terms of “net fiscal effects,” Hankinson further explained that “if you look at unskilled workers who don’t speak English, who have dependents, they almost always are a net loss to the fisc. in the short term, [though] maybe their children or grandchildren will be contributors.”
“But in all the studies that I’ve seen show that, if you’re a 30-year-old rocket scientist with good health who speaks English, you’re going to be a net contributor of half a million dollars over your lifetime,” Hankinson added. “If you’re a 25-year-old or 50-year-old unskilled laborer, you don’t speak English, you have dependents, you’re going to be a net taker for probably the same amount of money.”
While Hankinson acknowledged that many Haitians may be employed and …
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