Springfield, Ohio: They refuse to give in to fear

SPRINGFIELD | Some Haitians are more determined than ever to not give in to the fear that reigns in the streets of Springfield, Ohio, and to continue living and realizing their dreams of a better life.

“I’m not afraid. There are a lot of us who want to stay here, who want to make our lives here despite everything,” explains Yves Pierre, who opened a business in February to help Haitians fill out the forms to obtain their visa and who is also a translator at the courthouse. of Columbus.

Thanks to the support of the community and many Americans, the Haitian community, estimated to consist of 12,000 to 15,000 people in Springfield, remains strong.

Trump wrongly accused the community of killing and eating Springfield’s pets in the middle of the presidential debate, adding fuel to already existing tensions.

Since then, several Haitians in the city have confided that they fear for their safety.

Rose-Thamar Joseph, director of operations at the Haitian Community and Support Center, sees that the community fears for its future, but wants to be reassuring.

“There are people who left while things calmed down, who went to nearby towns while waiting to see the result of the election. They are just waiting to be able to come back here,” she says.

Love your city

All the Haitians met in Springfield by The Journal talked about how much they love this city and the life it offers them.

“When I arrived in 2019, there wasn’t a lot of life here in Springfield. There were a lot of shops and abandoned houses, the roads were in poor condition,” remembers Yves Pierre.

With plenty of job opportunities and affordable living, many Haitian immigrants, who were already living in the United States, decided to come to Springfield.

“Here, you can buy a house! You can find them at $40,000, $50,000. It’s affordable,” explains Tania Louis, who has also lived in this Ohio municipality for five years.

And it is for these reasons that they all hope to be able to continue to live there in peace and above all, to help it prosper.

Deportation?

Having just acquired his house, M^me Louis is determined to stay in Springfield, even if she thinks about her future in this country if Trump wins the elections, he who wants to deport Haitian immigrants.

Rose-Thamar Joseph, who has lived in Springfield since 2022, emphasizes that Haitians should not worry.

“If he wins, Donald Trump won’t be able to start deporting as soon as he takes office. We don’t want people to be guided by fear. There are organizations that will help and support Haitians if Trump really wants to deport them,” she explains.

She recalls that the United States is a country that was built thanks to immigration.

“Immigrants are a heavy weight on this country and its economy, and also on Springfield,” she adds.

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