Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will hold a town hall meeting in Springfield, Ohio, to “have an open and honest dialogue” as the city grapples with the effects of mass migration.
Ramaswamy said that the town hall event will be held Thursday evening in the Edward Wren Room at the Bushnell Events Center and will be open to hearing from “diverse voices from the local community, including Haitian immigrants.”
The path to national unity is through open dialogue. I’m going to Springfield on Thursday. photo: twitter.com/T4l8kcqvPd
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 18, 2024
“I don’t blame the people of Springfield, locals or migrants, for what’s happening. I blame the terrible federal policies that callously used these migrants as political pawns to sow division by transporting them to a community that everyone knew was ill-equipped to deal with them.” – Ramaswamy he said in the statement.
“It’s sad to see this happening just an hour from where I live, but the first step to a unified America starts with an open dialogue. I look forward to an honest conversation on Thursday evening,” Ramaswamy added.
Ramaswamy, who lived in Columbus and grew up in Cincinnati, also said he would make a “charitable donation” to a local organization in Springfield to support the community.
“I spent A LOT of time there as a child, I have wonderful memories that I am truly grateful for. It hurts me to see what they are going through now” – Ramaswamy he said.
In 2020, Springfield’s population, According to according to the U.S. Census Bureau, was 58,622.
In just three years, the city is estimated to have welcomed more than 20,000 Haitian refugees, increasing Springfield’s population by more than 30 percent.
Many Springfield residents have turned to local and state officials for facilitate as the influx of Haitian immigrants to the city has allegedly caused an boost in car accidents, increased real estate prices and strained public services, including health care.
Crime statistics provided by the Springfield Police Department also show an boost in nearly every crime category during the period when Haitian migrants began settling in the city.
Last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced $2.5 million would be given to Springfield to “expand” access to primary health care for city residents.
The governor also directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to assist the Springfield Police Department in enforcing traffic laws to “address the increase in unsafe driving in Springfield among inexperienced Haitian drivers and others who disregard traffic laws.”
DeWine next called on the federal government to “better support communities experiencing unexpected increases in migrant populations.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at Ohio Star AND Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Vivek Ramaswamy” by Gage Skidmore.CC BY-SA 2.0.
