Municipal officials in Springfield, Ohio, have evacuated City Hall following a bomb threat linked to ongoing anti-immigrant rhetoric. The threat was made by someone claiming to be a local resident upset over increased immigration.
Mayor Rob Rue informed reporters on Thursday that the evacuation was prompted by a bomb threat directed at multiple facilities in Springfield. “City Hall is closed due to the threat issued today,” the city government announced on social media.
The threat follows recent inflammatory and unfounded claims by conservative figures, including Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Trump and other right-wing voices have been spreading false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are involved in disturbing activities, such as abducting and eating pets.
“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats,” Trump said during a debate with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on Tuesday. This kind of rhetoric has been a recurring theme in Trump’s political discourse.
Springfield’s immigrant population, estimated at between 12,000 and 15,000, includes a significant number of Haitian and Haitian American residents.
Despite the positive economic contributions of immigrants, including job creation and business growth, conservative lawmakers have criticized them as a burden on public resources.
JD Vance, Trump’s vice presidential running mate, echoed these sentiments, claiming that the influx of Haitian immigrants has led to rising housing costs and other local challenges.
City officials have clarified that Haitian migrants in Springfield arrived legally through the Immigration Parole Program and have played a role in revitalizing the local economy by opening businesses and filling positions in various sectors.
A 2021 study by the libertarian Cato Institute highlighted that Haitian immigrants are more likely to be employed but also more likely to live in poverty compared to native-born Americans.
Meanwhile, the Haitian Times reported growing concerns within the local Haitian community regarding safety and intimidation. One Haitian woman, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed fears for her family’s safety, noting that her niece is now afraid to attend school. “We’re all victims this morning,” she said.
