Springfield

The Republican vice presidential nominee continues to rail against Haitian migrants living in Ohio, though many have Temporary Protected Status, as the GOP escalates its hardline immigration stance.

Schools, government buildings and elected officials' homes in Springfield were among the targets of more than 30 hoax threats made last week that forced evacuations and closures. Two more schools had to be evacuated on Monday. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said that a foreign actor was largely responsible, but he declined to name the country.

Ohio Gov. DeWine announce safety measures intended to combat repeated threats against city, school and other buildings and businesses in Springfield targeting the Haitian community.

Their community is reeling — confused, frustrated, hurt — from false accusations that they are eating their neighbor’s cats and dogs. The now viral and highly politicized rumors are being fueled by former President Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance and others, and violent threats against the community are upending daily life in their city.

A real increase in immigration and a false claim about migrants eating pets have catapulted Springfield, Ohio, to the national spotlight. PolitiFact traveled to Springfield to follow the misinformation’s aftermath.

Springfield was in the spotlight on the Sunday TV news shows, which featured Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance.

Sen. JD Vance, in a media appearance, blames the media for ignoring the situation in Springfield, Ohio, and justifies false stories about Haitian migrants.

This comes as racist rumors targeting Haitian immigrants in Springfield have been circulating on social media all week.

The FBI is investigating bomb threats made in Springfield. This comes after former President Trump spreading debunked claims that Haitians were killing and eating pets.

The father of 11-year-old Aiden Clark, of Springfield, Ohio, who was killed last year when a Haitian immigrant hit a school bus, is imploring Donald Trump and other politicians to stop invoking his son's name in the debate about immigration.