Before the clock strikes 9 a.m., a line already stretches through the lobby of St. Vincent de Paul in Springfield. Casey Rollins, director of the nonprofit, watches as children race around their mothers鈥� bright dresses.
鈥淚t looks like the U.N.,鈥� Rollins said. 鈥淚 think it looks better than the U.N. frankly. Homey.鈥�
The Catholic food pantry and clothing charity has expanded its services amid a growing Haitian population in Springfield. It hosts biweekly legal clinics to help Haitian immigrants apply for , which allows migrants from designated countries to temporarily live and work in the U.S. while their home country is deemed dangerous. Haitians have been eligible for this legal status.
Michelet Dasse came to Springfield last year, fleeing political instability in Haiti. The one-time farmer wants to get a job, but he鈥檚 waiting for the proper paperwork.
鈥淚 don't have anywhere to go,鈥� Dasse said, speaking through a translator. 鈥淚 just stay with my sister because my sister supports me.鈥�
Springfield is not the only Ohio city to attract Haitian immigrants, like Dasse, but it has been attracting them for the longest. The city has had a growing Haitian population for the last decade. It鈥檚 been an example for communities like Lima, who have seen a recent surge, to follow.
But a community tragedy has caused tension in Springfield and put both the local Haitian community, and those trying to help it, under the microscope.
A community tragedy
City officials estimate around 12,000 people have come from Haiti to Springfield since 2020. That鈥檚 more than a 20% increase to the town鈥檚 population of .
For a while, Rollins said her organization鈥檚 support of the new arrivals like Dasse went largely unchallenged.
That changed last year, when a Haitian man without a valid driver鈥檚 license killed an 11-year old in a . It sparked outcry and fear over the presence of Haitian immigrants in the community.
鈥淭hat's when a lot of the rebellion got above ground and got louder and louder. We started getting harassing, menacing letters,鈥� Rollins said.
Today, I was joined by Mayor and Dr. Yamini Teegala, CEO of , in meeting with community leaders to discuss efforts to address public services and safety concerns about Springfield鈥檚 rapidly growing Haitian immigrant population.
— US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner)
The city has become a nationwide lightning rod for the issue of immigration. Vice presidential candidate and Ohio senator J.D. Vance points to the city as is needed. And Ohio Congressman Mike Turner, who represents the area, has of the that prioritizes immigration for Haitian family members of legal residents.
A divided community聽
Locally, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said the incident has led to an enormous amount of strife.
The 11-year-old鈥檚 family has condemned what it calls hateful remarks toward the Haitian community. But, city council meetings continue to erupt in .
鈥淚f you just watch some of our city meetings, it's not just racism, it's fear,鈥� Rue said. 鈥淭here's maybe some comments of racism. But it's not just that. It's also fear that there's a lot of people here and we just don't know what to do.鈥�
Patrick Joseph, who came to Springfield from Haiti last year, said recently there seems to be less economic opportunity for Haitian people, especially those that do not speak English.
鈥�This is the place people love the most to come because they say as soon as you come to Ohio you're going to get a job,鈥� Joseph said. 鈥淏ut right now because of the language barriers, or [the traffic accident] , things [have] become really hard.鈥�
Federal help聽
Rue emphasizes that the city and organizations like St. Vincent de Paul are trying to respond with compassion. But he said they need help. There鈥檚 not enough housing, law enforcement, health services or translation services to accommodate the rapid population increase.
鈥淲e have compassion for those that are here. They've come out of a terrible situation,鈥�
Rue said. 鈥淏ut this wasn't Springfield, Ohio鈥檚 problem to solve.鈥�
He鈥檚 asking state and national leaders for financial assistance for small cities like Springfield that he says don鈥檛 have the infrastructure to support waves of immigration.
Rollins, with St. Vincent de Paul, is focused on the present.
鈥淭he reality is they鈥檙e here. They鈥檙e ours. We need to help,鈥� she said.
While the debate over the immigration reform continues, she鈥檒l be working with immigrants like Dasse, who hope to start a life in Ohio.
