Trump threatens mass deportations of Haitian immigrants
Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the end of the day's proceedings in his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City, on May 3, 2024.
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, vowed on Friday to conduct large-scale deportations of Haitian immigrants from Springfield, Ohio, despite the majority of them being in the US legally.
Speaking at a press conference in Los Angeles, Trump made this pledge while continuing to stoke controversy with false claims that Haitian arrivals were harming the local community.
"We will do large deportations from Springfield," Trump declared, targeting the city's Haitian population, which numbers between 12,000 to 15,000.
His comments followed right-wing rumors falsely accusing Haitian immigrants of eating household pets—a claim Trump did not repeat in his latest remarks but mentioned during a presidential debate earlier in the week.
Tensions in Springfield have escalated due to bomb threats against local schools and government buildings, which city officials have linked to the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding immigration.
Two elementary schools were evacuated, and one middle school was closed on Friday as a precaution.
President Joe Biden condemned the attacks and called for an end to the hate-fueled threats. "There's no place in America for this," Biden said, urging the protection of the Haitian community.
Haitian community leaders have expressed concerns that Trump's remarks could further inflame violence and discrimination.
Local officials have stated that no credible reports support the accusations against the Haitian population.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue urged for calm and unity, stating, "We need help, not hate," in response to the rising tensions and misinformation spreading in the community.