Former President Donald Trump pledged on Friday to initiate massive deportations from Springfield, Ohio, if re-elected. He claimed, without evidence, that Haitian migrants in the city were eating cats and dogs. Speaking to reporters in California, Trump said, “We will do large deportations from Springfield, Ohio,” at a press conference at his golf resort near Los Angeles targeting what he described as “barbaric criminals” causing harm in US communities.
The majority of the 15,000 Haitians in Springfield are there legally. Trump’s longstanding pledge to conduct mass deportations usually refers to those in the country illegally.

Trump did not repeat the assertion he made during Tuesday’s presidential debate with Democrat Kamala Harris that immigrants were eating dogs and cats, remarks that have been widely mocked.
Trump has cited the tensions in Springfield as another example of the need for hardline immigration polices. The influx of Haitians has boosted the economy but also has strained social services.

Debunked claims of migrants eating pets
During a recent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump repeated the false allegation that migrants in Springfield were consuming household pets. “They’re eating the dogs — the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” he claimed, despite moderator David Muir pointing out that the city manager had refuted the claim. Trump insisted, “I’ve seen people saying it on television.”
Following the debate, Trump shared AI-generated social media posts showing pets supporting his candidacy.
Migrants in Springfield: Legal residents filling workforce gaps
Springfield, a city of 58,000, has seen a significant rise in its Haitian migrant population in recent years, largely due to legal immigration programs. The influx has helped the city meet rising labor demand after decades of industrial decline, reported CBS. Most of these migrants are in the US legally through Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole programs, which allow them to live and work while their home countries experience crisis.
Despite Trump’s claims, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, along with Springfield’s mayor and police chief, confirmed that there have been no credible reports of migrants stealing or eating pets.
Governor DeWine offers support for strained resources
While acknowledging the strain on local healthcare systems, Governor DeWine announced a $2.5 million initiative to expand primary care access in Springfield, where many Haitian migrants have limited health services. “We will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants,” DeWine said, criticizing the federal government’s lack of a clear plan.
Biden condemns Trump’s rhetoric
President Joe Biden denounced Trump’s remarks during a White House event celebrating Black excellence, calling the comments harmful to the Haitian community. “This has to stop, what he’s doing. It has to stop,” Biden said, referring to the inflammatory claims Trump and his allies have made about Springfield’s migrants.
Despite Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, painting Springfield as a community in crisis, local leaders and experts have consistently rejected their claims, pointing to the important contributions of migrants in the region.
‘We need help, not hate’
Haitian community leaders across the United States said the Republican candidate’s remarks could put lives at risk and further inflame tensions in Springfield. “We need help, not hate,” Springfield’s mayor Rob Rue told ABC News.
City officials say they have received no credible reports of anybody eating household animals. Karen Graves, a city spokesperson, said she was not aware of recent hate crimes targeting Haitian residents but that some had been victims of “crimes of opportunity,” such as property theft.