Springfield resident claims Haitian migrants are ‘decapitating and eating ducks in the park’ as Ohio town rages over explosion of migrants

A Springfield, Ohio resident claims Haitian migrants are beheading and eating ducks in public parks.

The injured man made the claim last month during a meeting of the city commission, which was dealing with the influx of legal Haitian immigrants, a move that has revitalized the local economy but has also sparked controversy among locals.

“I really challenge you to come here and do something,” he said at the meeting.

“These Haitians are running into trash cans, they’re running into buildings… they’re overturning cars in the middle of the street…”

The man added: ‘They’re in the park, grabbing ducks by the neck, chopping off their heads and walking away with them. They’re eating them.’

Springfield, Ohio, has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate after Haitian migrants flocked to the city in 2020 to fill job vacancies

DailyMail.com has contacted the Springfield Police Department and the chief’s office for comment on the unconfirmed claim.

Springfield, Ohio, has become a bone of contention in the immigration debate after large numbers of Haitian migrants poured into the city in 2020 to fill job vacancies.

The Haitians, who were already legally resident in the country, were willing to do the manual labor work that the locals were not so enthusiastic about and moved to the city.

Within a few years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, increasing Springfield’s population to just 58,000 in 2020.

The Haitians had social security numbers and work permits, paid taxes and lived in empty, boarded-up homes as the city shrank.

However, their arrival put pressure on medical facilities and the education system.

During a city commission meeting, angry locals used the forum to express their feelings about the Haitians, making several wild claims

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

“We get messages like, ‘Haitians are killing ducks in many of our parks,’ or ‘Haitians are eating vegetables straight from the grocery store aisle.’

“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.”

By filling the empty homes, later arrivals also contributed to the housing crisis, which was fueled by landlords giving priority to immigrants who would pay more, rather than to low-income locals who received government subsidies.

Tensions rose after Aiden Clark (11) died on August 22 last year in a crash involving a school bus, in which a Haitian immigrant ended up in the wrong lane.

During the meeting with the commissioners, a local woman pleaded with local officials to make some changes after she revealed that she was expelled from her home country, where she had lived for 45 years, due to migrant activities.

An Ohio woman is pleading with local authorities to make changes after she revealed she was evicted from her home of 45 years due to migrant activity

Tensions rose after a school bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant who veered into the wrong lane on August 22 last year claimed the life of 11-year-old Aiden Clark

“I’m done with what I’m seeing,” the woman said, her voice shaking with emotion. “It’s so unsafe in my neighborhood anymore.”

The resident, who held the sides of the lectern as she spoke, continued, “I’ve had to deal with homeless people trying to camp, and I’ve made concessions to them.”

She said she was “trying to help” these people so they wouldn’t try to “squat” on her property.

“It’s so unsafe,” she complained. “There are men standing in my front yard who don’t speak English and yelling at me, throwing mattresses…[and] ‘throwing trash in my front yard.’

“Look at me,” the unhappy resident said, pointing to herself. “I weigh 95 pounds. I couldn’t defend myself even if I had to.”

Because of her fears, the woman said her “elderly” husband had decided they would leave the home they had lived in for 45 years.