Ohio Lt. Governor John Husted said that the Biden-Harris Administration’s immigration policy is ‘the direct cause of the overwhelming influx of Haitian immigrants’ following a visit to the community of Springfield.
In a social media post on X, Husted attributed the influx directly to the federal government’s handling of immigration, particularly the Biden administration’s decision to grant temporary legal status to Haitian immigrants. The governor emphasized that this policy, along with recent changes allowing immigrants to bring up to six family members, has created an unsustainable situation for communities like Springfield. Local officials estimate the Haitian population has increased by 10,000 to 20,000, overwhelming public services and infrastructure.
“The implementation of federal immigration policy by the Biden administration is the direct cause of the overwhelming influx of Haitian immigrants,” Lt. Gov. Husted wrote. “I included the word “implementation” because it doesn’t need to be done this way, it’s a choice made by the Biden administration.”
Among the critical issues raised by Husted are language barriers, which he said are driving up costs for local schools and healthcare providers. Springfield has seen a significant rise in Haitian Creole-speaking students, jumping from 151 to 572 in just one year, creating a demand for expensive and hard-to-find translation services. The strain extends to public safety, with Husted noting that many Haitian immigrants are unlicensed or unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws, raising concerns about highway safety.
Husted also pointed to health risks, claiming local healthcare providers have reported an uptick in tuberculosis and other diseases due to a lack of vaccinations among the immigrant population. Additionally, the influx is putting pressure on the Medicaid system, with an estimated 6,590 non-citizens, mostly of Haitian origin, receiving benefits in Springfield and surrounding Clark County.
“The federal government’s implementation of immigration laws that have led to this overwhelming influx which the community just can’t handle and that has generated a lot of anger and resentment,” Husted said.
In a follow-up to his social media post, Husted said that he will continue to seek more data on the economic impact of the surge in immigrants.
