A Springfield, Ohio, resident has claimed that Haitian migrants have been decapitating ducks in public parks and eating them.
The aggrieved man made the claim during a city commission meeting last month to address the influx of legal Haitian immigrants - which has revitalized the local economy, but also sparked controversy among locals.
'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...'
The man added: '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.'
A Springfield, Ohio , resident has claimed that Haitian migrants have been decapitating ducks in public parks and eating them
Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration, after droves of Haitian migrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill jobs vacancies
Reports of migrants eating animals like ducks remain 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.
Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration, after droves of Haitian migrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill jobs vacancies.
Willing to do the blue-collar jobs locals were unenthusiastic about, the Haitians, who were already in the country legally, moved to the town.
Within a few years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, swelling Springfield's population, which was only 58,000 in 2020.
The Haitians had social security numbers and job permits, paid taxes, and lived in houses that were empty and boarded up as the town shrank.
However, their arrival put a strain on medical services and the education system.
At a city commission meeting, furious locals used the forum to voice their feelings about the Haitians, making several wild claims in the process
'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 "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.'
Having filled empty homes, later arrivals also contributed to a housing crisis egged on by landlords prioritizing immigrants who would pay more, instead of low-income locals on government subsidies.
Bubbling tensions overflowed after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant veering into the wrong lane killed Aiden Clark, 11, on August 22 last year.
During the meeting with commissioners, a local woman pleaded with local officials to make some changes, after revealing that she is being driven out of her home of 45 years because of migrant activity.
An Ohio woman pleaded with local officials to make some changes, after revealing that she is being driven out of her home of 45 years because of migrant activity
Bubbling tensions overflowed after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant veering into the wrong lane killed Aiden Clark, 11, on August 22 last year
'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.'
The resident, who gripped the sides of the lectern as she spoke, continued: 'I have the homeless that were trying to camp out, and I have made concessions with them.'
She said that she 'tried to help' these individuals, so that they would not try to 'squat' on her property.
'It is so unsafe,' she lamented. '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.'
Because of her fears, the woman revealed that her 'elderly' husband had decided that they would leave their home of 45 years.
