LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio have been at the center of lots of controversy since the debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump brought up claims of Haitians stealing, killing and eating pets. Officials in Ohio have told Spectrum News 1 the claims are false, and there are no reports to back up the claims.

Stenley Mondestin, a Haitian and now living in Louisville, has concerns this kind of misinformation could have far-reaching consequences beyond Springfield. He has heard fellow Haitians in Louisville express concerns for their safety.

“I will not say it’s generalized but for sure there are people that are actually fearing for their life and to the point now I heard some people say they are no longer putting Haitian’s flag into their car, Haitian’s symbol into their car so people do not know they are Haitian, do not target them,” Mondestin said.

Kentucky Refugee Ministries executive director John Koehlinger has expressed his support for the Haitian community during this time.

“They’ve been, you know, dehumanized as part of a way to disparage immigrants at large,” Koehlinger said.

Support from community members is the story that Mondestin wants at the forefront of this issue.

“My own pastor was discussing to me how another pastor actually sent him a message showing support, saying that, ‘We are against this. We are not that kind of nation,’ and putting some thought and support to the community and that’s a great thing,” Mondestin said.

Trump and his running mate JD Vance have doubled down on their claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield. There have been dozens of bomb threats to Springfield schools in the debate's aftermath. 

Mondestin and other local Haitian community members say Haitians in Springfield have been telling them they are afraid to leave their homes.