Haitian refugees sought tranquility in their homeland but now find it disrupted in Springfield
Three years ago, Dorsainvil expressed a challenging predicament: endanger his life to stay in Haiti and witness the birth of his child or escape the violent gangs that had devastated his nation and marked him as a target.
He shared his thoughts with CNN, stating, “I didn’t exactly want to leave, but they were after me.” Graduating from medical school meant the gangs believed he possessed assets, specifically financial ones, but Dorsainvil clarified that he only provided healthcare to his community without any significant earnings.
His fiancee ultimately provided him with guidance, asserting, “They come after you, you’ve got to leave.”
Consequently, similar to countless other Haitians, Dorsainvil immigrated to the United States, which granted him temporary protective status. He eventually settled in Springfield, Ohio, where his brother lived and offered a sense of security and warmth.
Regrettably, this sentiment of safety has crumbled in the recent past week, as Springfield became swarmed with threatening messages following false allegations made by former President Donald Trump and his vice-presidential running mate, implying that immigrants in the city engaged in pet theft and consumption.
As a result, Clark State College, where Dorsainvil pursued nursing, temporarily shifted to remote learning. Concurrently, the hospital where he worked as a rehabilitation nurse was forced to shut down due to these threats.
Dorsainvil told CNN that the surging anxiety brought back some of the fear he had confronted in Haiti. He expressed, “I was thinking to myself, ‘Oh okay, I come here to find some peace, and I fled my country because of that, and right now, the same thing is happening.’ It feels tough.”
'We had no threats just a week ago'
Unquestionably, it’s easy for some individuals to underestimate the gravity of these assertions during last week’s presidential debate, but for Springfield’s Haitian community, their fears are anything but humorous.
Madet Merove, a Haitian immigrant and United Methodist pastor, expressed her concerns about their safety and future. Merove pondered, “What has Haiti done to the world that they hate us so much?”
At a press conference, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted the efforts taken by various law-enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, to provide protection for Springfield.
Andy Wilson, Ohio’s Director of Public Safety, stated, “We’re receiving numerous bomb threats every day, but they’ve all been fabricated.”
According to Wilson, the governor reported that the city has received more than 30 threats since the past week. Two local Walmarts and several schools have been evacuated due to these threats. Regardless of their hoax status, they have contributed to the prevailing sense of fear and discomfort in the community.
Schools in the city reopened with additional measures, such as the presence of state highway patrol, tower cameras, and bomb detection dogs. At a news conference, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue commended the governor for debunking these false allegations and urged national leaders to "restrain the usage of their words and speak sincerely."
“We didn’t experience threats or these concerns just a week ago,” Rue said. “We didn’t have the costly repercussions for Springfield and Ohio just a week ago.”
Rue has previously highlighted that Springfield experienced a 25% population growth within the past 3 years. The city estimates that between 12,000-15,000 immigrants live in Springfield and surrounding Clark County.
Rue and city officials have consistently confirmed that Haitian immigrants reside in Springfield legally under the Immigration Parole Program, which the Biden administration implemented in 2023 to supply secure and organized pathways for nationals from Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba experiencing urgent humanitarian needs.
Margery Koveleski, who is a Haitian immigrant living in the US and a longtime Springfield resident, mentioned that many Haitians choose to live in Springfield due to its reputation for safety, low cost of living, and job opportunities.
“It was almost like during a Good Friday sale at Macy’s, where there’s a fantastic deal, all your friends will soon learn about it, and the stores will be overcrowded,” she said.
However, the sudden influx of immigrants has also put a strain on the city’s limited resources. Earlier this year, Bryan Heck, Springfield’s city manager, penned a letter to US Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democratic representative from Ohio, requesting more federal support for the city. In the letter, Heck explained the surge in population made it challenging for the city to accommodate every resident.
“Regardless of the 2000 additional housing units expected to be available within the next 3-5 years, this is still not enough,” Heck wrote in his letter.
This month, DeWine’s office announced that Ohio would allocate $2.5 million to increase primary care services in the city and provide enhanced translation services to cater to the needs of immigrant patients.
Following an increase in traffic accidents, such as an accident involving a Haitian immigrant that led to the tragic death of an 11-year-old child, the governor's office instructed the Ohio State Highway Patrol to beef up traffic law enforcement. The city also intends to provide driver education specifically tailored for Haitians and Creole speakers.
However, during a recent city commission meeting, some Springfield locals expressed concern about the apparent concentration of resources on immigrant communities rather than assisting local residents.
"People are really getting fed up," a man at the meeting stated. "A lot of people feel like this. I'm not the only one, but I'm man enough to admit it."
Haitians yearn for Value Creation, not Charity
Koveleski acknowledges that she's witnessed significant changes in her city over the years. Having left New York City after the 9/11 attacks and relocating to what she calls "Slow-hio," her family opened a mattress store in Springfield. Over time, the city's decline and the struggle of their business became apparent.
"We went bankrupt because we couldn't find any workers," she said, adding that many local businesses experienced the same downturn.
However, she believes that the influx of Haitian immigrants has revitalized the city. Koveleski now works as a Haitian Creole translator and community activist.
"There are two sides to every story," she said. "Yes, some residents feel it's an invasion and we're losing too many resources. But with Haitians, we don't want handouts; we're here to work. That's the Haitian mentality – they want to contribute value."
An Ohio-based temp agency revealed that the demand for labor in the wider Springfield area is high and estimated that most of the people they connect to businesses in the area are Haitian.
"At this point, we're probably a 60/40 split," said Corey Worden, president of Job Talent Connect, the staffing agency who help connect potential workers with area companies.
Worden's agency also assists companies with providing transportation to those who may want to work but lack means of transportation – a service available to any worker, not just immigrants.
Trump announced on Wednesday that he plans to visit Springfield "within the next two weeks."
Mayor Rue stated during a press conference that a visit from either presidential candidate would put a strain on the city's already stretched resources.
"Should he choose to alter his plans, it would send a powerful message of harmony to the city of Springfield," he said.
Back in his apartment, Dorsainvil is taking online classes, which he finds more challenging due to English being his second language.
He said that the past week had drastically altered his predominantly Haitian neighborhood. People used to walk along sidewalks and greet each other; now they're scared to leave their homes.
But despite the threats, Dorsainvil retains hope.
"The past few days, I felt a little down, but for some reason, I feel better now," he said. "You know why? Because my teachers, coworkers, friends – even people who didn't have my contact information – reached out to me, asking 'How are you holding up? We love you; we need you here.' So, there's a lot of love in this society."
Dorsainvil hopes that Springfield will return to its peaceful past. He also wishes that his fiancée and daughter in Haiti will one day experience the same peace of mind and stability that brought him to the city in the first place.
"Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate all Haitians coming here. We have to rebuild our country back home," he said. "I think one day, I will return to help."
CNN's Omar Jimenez and Meridith Edwards reported from Springfield, Ohio, and Chelsea Bailey wrote from Washington, DC.
Despite the recent threats and tension, Dorsainvil's community in Springfield has shown their support. He shared, "My teachers, coworkers, friends – even people who didn't have my contact information – reached out to me, asking 'How are you holding up? We love you; we need you here.'"
In light of these events, Dorsainvil and many other Haitians in Springfield are looking forward to a return to peace and stability. He expressed, "I was thinking to myself, ‘Oh okay, I come here to find some peace, and I fled my country because of that, and right now, the same thing is happening.’ It feels tough," but added, "For some reason, I feel better now."
