by Bethany Blankley
Haitians are flocking not only to Springfield, Ohio, but also to small rural towns across the country as a result of several policies of the Biden-Harris administration.
As of fiscal year 2021, more than 485,000 Haitians have crossed the border illegally, a record have been reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The huge majority were filed this fiscal year — nearly 216,000 compared to 48,727 in fiscal 2021.
From fiscal year 2021 through August, most were apprehended on the southwest border – nearly 262,000, followed by nearly 221,000 nationwide and nearly 2,300 on the northern border, the data shows.
Additionally, since July, 205,000 Haitians have been released through the CHNV parole program, according to CBP data. Of the more than 765,000 illegal aliens released into the country through the CBP One app, the largest nationality is Haitian. As part of these programs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also extended their momentary eternal residence status and issued them work authorization.
All of these programs are illegal, argue state attorneys general who sued to stop them. Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also cited them as one of the many illegal actions Mayorka caused that led to his impeachment. Since then, Mayorkas has only expanded the programs and extended TPS.
In response to the influx of Haitians, local officials say Haitians are there to work and contribute to society, even though residents say otherwise.
City of Springfield claims “our population has increased over the last few years, largely due to an influx of legal immigrants,” which suggests that Springfield “is an attractive place for many reasons, including a lower cost of living and available jobs.”
Springfield Mayor Bob Rue said “in many ways my hands are tied” with the influx of Haitians, pointing to the nomination given to them by the Biden-Harris administration. The TPS program “came from the White House and is homeland security policy,” he said at a recent city commission meeting.
Springfield residents argued that the overwhelming majority of Haitians were enrolled in welfare and did not work; they have caused an escalate in crime and there are not enough police to deal with it; and residents are killed by Haitian drivers. Rue expressed concern about the perilous road conditions, saying, “I almost got hit myself.”
Over the past three years, Springfield’s population of 50,000 has grown by about 20,000. City officials say they are there “legally” through TPS until Feb. 3, 2026.
Residents of Sylacauga, Alabama are demanding answers about busloads of Haitians being dropped off in their community. At the Sept. 5 city council meeting, City Council President Tiffany Nix closed the meeting and raised the issue of race. “We have no reason to treat people differently because of their appearance,” she said. “There is no reason for us to discuss this further.” She also said, “I intend to welcome anyone who wants to come to Sylacauga” – 1819 News reported.
Sylacauga resident David Phillips he said“There is no way the Department of State can verify these individuals,” adding that they come from a failed state and are potentially perilous.
Residents continue to speak out. At the September 17 meeting, Nix he said The Haitians stayed there on 18-month visas. A meeting with state and federal lawmakers is also scheduled.
Coffee County, one resident claimed, “30,000 illegal aliens are expected to arrive in the first week of October, with 1,000 of them coming to Baldwin County” and that human trafficking was taking place, News of 1819 reported. Enterprise City Councilor Greg Padgett published a statement on Facebook, saying: “Enterprise is not a sanctuary city; No elected officials received bribes to let Haitians into our city; “No one informed our city’s elected officials about this program, how many of them were here and why – so nothing was covered up.” He also said they are “doing everything we can to get fact-based answers.”
In Charleroi, Pennsylvania, the immigrant population has increased “by over 2,000% in just the last two years,” largely due to the influx of Haitians, 11 News reported. Still, it puts a strain on the local school district, Charleroi Council Borough Manager Joe Manning said he said KDKA News, Haitians “are not draining our resources, they are not causing problems.” Charleroi Council President Kristin Hopkins-Calek said their community is “steeped in a rich history of immigration” and Haitians are making a positive contribution, Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported.
Under current law, most Haitians released into the United States are inadmissible, but the Biden-Harris administration ordered their release and received a “notice to appear” for an immigration court hearing years from now. NTA says they are unacceptable, CBP officials explained to The Center Square. Several reports by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security found their NTA status unacceptable and concluded that their release, rather than removal, violated federal law established by Congress. House Republicans say that if federal law were followed, most of them would be barred from entering.
As The Center Square previously reported, many inadmissible Haitians became citizens of Mexico, Chile and other countries, living and working there for years before applying for asylum in the US. Border Patrol and local Texas officials first became aware of this when 30,000 Haitians arrived in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021. Many left their passports and identification documents – which show their citizenship is not Haitian – in Mexico, claiming they do not have them. Most were released into communities across the country in Central Square reported.
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Bethany Blankley is a contributing writer Central Square.
