OAN Staff James Meyers
1:49 PM – Monday, September 9, 2024
A Springfield, Ohio, resident has claimed that Haitian migrants have been decapitating ducks in public parks and eating them.
The frustrated man made the claim during a city commission meeting last month to address the wave of legal Haitian immigrants.
“I really challenge you guys to get out here and do something,” he told the meeting.
“These Haitians are running into trash cans, running into buildings… they’re flipping cars in the middle of the streets…”
“They’re in the park, grabbing up ducks by their neck, and cutting their head off and walking off with them. They’re eating them,” he added.
However, reports of Haitian migrants eating animals such as ducks remains unconfirmed.
“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” the City of Springfield told DailyMail.com in a statement on Monday.
Meanwhile, Springfield, Ohio, has become a popular area of debate over immigration, after thousands of Haitian’s migrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill job vacancies.
The Haitian’s, who were already in the country legally, according to Dailymail.com, moved to the town to fill the blue-collar jobs that residents were not filling.
Within multiple years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, increasing Springfield’s population, which was at 58,000 in 2020.
Additionally, the newly arrived immigrants had social security numbers and job permits, paid taxes, and lived in houses that were abandoned and boarded up.
“I think it’s sad that some people are using this as an opportunity to spread hate or spread fear,” deputy director of public safety and operations Jason Via told NPR.
“We get these reports that the Haitians are killing ducks in a lot of our parks or the Haitians are eating vegetables right out of the aisle at the grocery store.”
“And we haven’t really seen any of that. It’s really frustrating. As a community, it’s not helpful as we try to move forward.”
However, local residents claim the Haitians caused a housing crisis, claiming landlords are prioritizing immigrants who are willing to pay more, instead of low-income locals.
During a meeting with the town commissioners, a local woman claimed that changes need to happen, after revealing she is being forced out of her home of 45 years because of the waves of migrants.
“I’m done with what I’m seeing,” the woman said in a voice trembling with emotion. “It is so unsafe in my neighborhood anymore.”
“I have the homeless that were trying to camp out, and I have made concessions with them.”
‘It is so unsafe,’ she said in a trembling voice. ‘I have men that cannot speak English in my front yard screaming at me, throwing mattresses…[and] throwing trash in my front yard.’
“Look at me, the unhappy resident said, gesturing toward herself. I weigh 95 pounds. I couldn’t defend myself if I had to.”
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts