False and racist allegations made by prominent figures in the Republican Party in the United States, such as Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are being disseminated. These allegations, which include the unsubstantiated accusation that migrants are stealing and eating local pets and wildlife, have lacked any evidence and have been amplified by conservative media outlets and social media posts, according to a report by The Guardian.
Images generated by artificial intelligence, such as one showing Trump holding cats and ducks, were used to feed this distorted narrative, presenting the former president as a "savior" of the city. Politicians such as Ted Cruz also participated in the outreach, spreading racist memes that reinforce fear and misinformation about Haitian migrants, according to the same publication.
Despite the claims, the local Springfield police have not received any reports related to the theft or massacre of animals. The origin of the disinformation appears to have been a comment made during a community meeting and posts in crime watchdog groups on Facebook, which were later amplified by social networks and media outlets such as the Daily Mail.
The increase in the number of Haitian migrants in Springfield is part of a Biden administration policy that grants temporary protected status to people coming from Haiti due to violence in their home country. While some residents express concerns about migration and its impacts, such as rising housing costs and a tragic accident involving a migrant, the arrival of these migrants has also helped the local economy, especially in sectors such as health and education.
There is considered to be a political use of these
false claims by the Trump campaign, which is trying to make immigration a
central issue in the election, blaming the Biden administration and Kamala
Harris for the challenges facing cities like Springfield. The campaign promotes
Trump's promise to carry out a mass deportation operation if he is re-elected.
