Ohio police have dismissed recent allegations made by Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, about Haitian immigrants allegedly abducting and eating pets in Springfield.
Vance’s social media posts claimed that the city’s immigrant population was involved in harming animals, a statement that quickly went viral.
However, the Springfield Police Division has confirmed that there are no credible reports supporting these allegations.
The claims, which gained traction through conservative figures such as Charlie Kirk and Senator Ted Cruz, appear to have stemmed from an unverified post in a local Facebook group. Despite the viral spread of the post, local authorities have found no evidence of such criminal activities by Haitian immigrants.
The Haitian community leaders have condemned the accusations as racist and unfounded, exacerbating local tensions over immigration.
Vance’s campaign, while noting a high volume of concerned calls from residents, has not provided any proof to back the senator’s claims. According to city officials, Haitian immigrants in Springfield are legally residing under the federal Immigration Parole Program.
