SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Last week during the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, controversy began over Haitian immigrants in Springfield.  

What You Need To Know

  • Bernie Moreno spoke in Springfield 

  • Moreno said America has gone off the ledge 

  • Moreno said Haitian refugees and Springfield residents are not to blame 

On Saturday morning, U.S. Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno visited Clark County to address the community. 

Another investigation is underway in Springfield after two hospitals received bomb threats. It marks three consecutive days that public buildings in the city have been forced to lockdown after receiving threats.

Springfield has become the center of attention after unconfirmed reports of Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets.

Springfield residents like Jim Lagos said that Haitian people have been in their city for years now, but they have noticed that their town is becoming overpopulated, and they don’t have the means to take care of that many community members in their schools and hospitals. 

“I think some of the things going on here have been very much overblown. There is a lot of concern in the community caused by uncertainty,” said Lagos.

At a campaign event Saturday, Moreno said America has gone off the ledge. 

“The lack of notice, the lack of planning, the lack of knowledge and if there’s anything I would say about our president's immigration policy, it’s chaos. That’s the problem,” Lagos said.

Former President and Presidential candidate Donald Trump said that he will start deporting illegal immigrants, and would begin those deportations in Springfield.

Moreno said he is a legal immigrant, and the immigration policy right now needs fixed.

“No country on earth would allow to happen what’s happening here. The Dominican Republic has a wall that separates Haiti and that country and allows no immigration from Haitian immigrants. The Bahamas do not allow them. Why on earth is America allowing illegal immigration to come here at all?” Moreno said.

Moreno said his opponent, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris are to blame for immigration issues in the U.S.

He also said anyone who has made a threat and put citizens at risk should be arrested and punished to the full extent of the law. 

“Any threats that are provided to schools, government buildings is completely, completely unacceptable,” Moreno said.

We reached out to Brown’s team about Springfield.

The Ohio Democratic Party shared this response with us calling out social media posts and quotes from Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance.

“This week, we’ve clearly seen that JD Vance will say anything in order to win this election without a single thought about the impact on the communities he represents.”

Springfield community members like business owner, Vicki Rulli said they’re feeling anxious as a community. 

“I feel terrible for our Haitian community. I feel terrible for the people here that are the loving, wonderful welcoming people which there are more of. 100%. But the loud noises. They’re really hard, it’s hurtful,” Rulli said.

And Rulli said all she’s been talking about with other community members is what needs to happen next. 

“We do our best. All of us are sharing all the positive things. All of us, I own a business. Today we’re printing signs that say hate has no home here,” Rulli said.

Springfield’s Mayor, Rob Sue, said Thursday’s threat that shut down some schools and city buildings were connected to the city’s immigration issues.

At this time it is unknown the number of Haitians that have entered the country illegally.