Ohio governor addresses migration influx: 'Not against program ... but we need help'

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday addressed growing concerns over recent reports of a migrant influx in the state centered on the city of Springfield and Clark County.

He spoke at a news conference in Columbus, where he used noticeably non-inflammatory rhetoric to address the situation in the town of 58,000, compared with other prominent voices in his state and party.

At the outset, DeWine noted that approximately 15,000 Haitian migrants have relocated to the area "in recent years," which is a relatively massive influx of people for the region.

"That obviously represents a massive increase based upon percentage of the population of Springfield," he said. "That is unprecedented over such a short period of time."

Healthcare and education -- including driver education -- are two of the most pressing issues, DeWine said.

A good number of the (Haitians) who come to the United States ... have not driven, many of them," DeWine said. "This is creating a great deal of concern among people who are on the road in Springfield and Clark County.

The governor added that many of the migrants arrive not speaking English, not knowing the local laws and have not received much healthcare in their lives due to the "abysmally" poor conditions in Haiti.

DeWine on Tuesday announced a minimum of $2.5 million to help expand primary healthcare. He added that the federal government needs to step in and help, especially because, in DeWine's words, the border policy is what has allowed the migrant surge in the first place. However, he also emphasized that he does not oppose the program that extends special parole status to Haitian -- as well as Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan -- migrants.

"We'll see these things happen again and again," he said, adding that Findlay and Lima are two other Ohio cities that have seen similar migration surges. "So, the government certainly has to be part of the solution. It's their policies that have created this."

Minutes after DeWine finished his media event, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue began one of his own at a separate location. Right off the top, Rue debunked the story being passed around about a Haitian migrant eating a Springfield resident's cat.

We wish to clarify that we have not been able to verify any credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," he said.

"The news story regarding a cat being killed or consumed did not originate in Springfield. It actually involved a Canton woman who was arrested for animal cruelty last month."

The situation already was making national headlines before Ohio Senator and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance claimed on X on Tuesday that his office had received inquiries from Springfield residents that their neighbors' pets had been abducted.

"Rumors like this are taking away from the real issues, such as issues involving our housing, our school resources and our overwhelmed healthcare system," the mayor continued. "Additionally, there have been no verified incidents of immigrants engaging in illegal activities as squatting or littering in front of residents' homes."