Woman is forced out of her Springfield home of 45 years after migrants began squatting on her lawn

An Ohio woman pleaded with local officials to make some changes, after revealing that she is being driven out of her home of 45 years because of migrant activity.

Last month, the aggrieved resident addressed the city commission of Springfield, where an influx of legal Haitian immigrants has revitalized the local economy, but also sparked controversy among the population. 

'I'm done with what I'm seeing,' the woman said in a voice trembling with emotion. 'It is so unsafe in my neighborhood anymore.'

The resident, who gripped the sides of the lectern as she spoke, continued: 'I have the homeless that were trying to camp out, and I have made concessions with them.'

She said that she 'tried to help' these individuals, so that they would not try to 'squat' on her property.    

'It is so unsafe,' she lamented. 'I have men that cannot speak English in my front yard screaming at me, throwing mattresses...[and] throwing trash in my front yard.'

'Look at me,' the unhappy resident said, gesturing toward herself. 'I weigh 95 pounds. I couldn't defend myself if I had to.'

Because of her fears, the woman revealed that her 'elderly' husband had decided that they would leave their home of 45 years. 

'He said..."Guess what? It's time to pack up and move.'

Then the woman addressed the city officials directly, saying: 'I don't know what you expect of us as citizens.'

'I understand that they are here under temporary protective status and you are protecting them,' she continued. 

'Who's protecting us if we're protecting them?' she asked. 

'I want out of this town,' she said, frankly. But before she walked away from the podium, she added: 'Please give me a reason to stay.'

Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration, after droves of Haitian migrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill jobs vacancies. 

Willing to do the blue-collar jobs locals were unenthusiastic about, the Haitians, who were already in the country legally, moved to the town. 

Within a few years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, swelling Springfield's population, which was only 58,000 in 2020. 

The Haitians had social security numbers and job permits, paid taxes, and lived in houses that were empty and boarded up as the town shrank. 

However, their arrival put a strain on medical services and the education system. 

Having filled empty homes, later arrivals also contributed to a housing crisis egged on by landlords prioritizing immigrants who would pay more, instead of low-income locals on government subsidies.   

Bubbling tensions overflowed after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant veering into the wrong lane killed Aiden Clark, 11, on August 22 last year.

A bitter resident has even claimed that local car insurance rates were surging because the immigrants don't know how to drive.

At a city commission meeting on July 30, furious locals used the forum to voice their feelings about the Haitians, making several wild claims in the process.

One vocal resident, local Republican committee member Glenda Bailey, claimed the Haitians were 'occupying our land' and had low IQs.

'They have become the occupiers. What they've done is they've replaced the population in Springfield,' she claimed, warning they would soon become the majority and kick everyone else out.

Others falsely claimed the Haitian immigrants brought drugs, crimes, shoplifting, and disease with them - all refuted by city officials.

Springfield Police also dismissed claims the immigrants caused trouble, saying property crime was only up in line with national trends.

There was also no evidence of Haitian gangs in the town.

'I think it's sad that some people are using this as an opportunity to spread hate or spread fear,' deputy director of public safety and operations Jason Via told NPR.

'We get these reports "the Haitians are killing ducks in a lot of our parks" or "the Haitians are eating vegetables right out of the aisle at the grocery store."

'And we haven't really seen any of that. It's really frustrating. As a community, it's not helpful as we try to move forward.'