Lawmaker calls on feds for more Springfield help

Springfield’s state lawmaker wants the federal government to do more to help the Ohio city deal with infrastructure issues in the wake of the city’s exploding Haitian immigrant migration.

Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, blamed the growth of Haitian immigrants on current immigration policy, and leaders have been complaining for years.

“The Haitian migrant influx into Springfield is the result of failed federal immigration policy under the Biden-Harris administration," Willis said in a statement. "Local leaders have been trying to sound the alarm for years that the mass migration into a community of only 60,000 people was pushing this community to its breaking point. Now, they are facing a 15,000 to 20,000 increase in population that is straining the local services, leading to increased time for citizens to receive crucial public benefits. There was no communication from the federal government that they were going to start sending migrants to Springfield and there also has been no support. Springfield has been left on its own to figure out these problems.”

Haitian immigrants began coming to the community in 2020, and the city’s Republican Mayor Rob Rue estimates there are between 10,000 and 12,000 in the city.

The city’s website also says, “no government entity is responsible for the influx of Haitians into Clark County.”

The city says a "surge in our population over the last several years, primarily due to an influx of legal immigrants," suggesting that Springfield "is an appealing place for many reasons including lower cost of living and available work."

The state has initiated several programs to deal with the growing Haitian population under the Temporary Protected Status program.

The Temporary Protected Status program gives migrants whose home countries are considered unsafe legal status to live and work in America.

“The real issue is the language barrier," Willis said. "This is creating challenges for educators, law enforcement, health care professionals, and other service providers. Translators are needed at public service departments and these additional costs are straining already stretched resources. Without immediate federal assistance, Springfield risks further overwhelming its local infrastructure and jeopardizing the well-being of both its residents and the migrant community. It's time for the Biden-Harris administration to step up and provide the necessary support to ensure the community can continue to thrive while addressing this unprecedented challenge.”

Gov. Mike DeWine announced last week the state would operate mobile health clinics in the city. Ken Gordon, with the Ohio Department of Health, told The Center Square those will operate at on a 90-day lease at a cost of $85,500 paid for with federal funds.