Trump vows mass deportations amid rumours of migrants eating pets in Ohio
Donald Trump file photo
Donald Trump has pledged to deport large numbers of migrants, starting with a small town in Ohio, Springfield, which has been the subject of baseless rumours claiming that the influx of Haitians there are harming local pets and wildlife.
During a speech on Friday, Trump said, “We’re going to start with Springfield,” alleging the town had been "destroyed" by immigration. He also referenced a city in Colorado, which has been falsely accused by right-wing commentators of being overtaken by a Venezuelan gang.
Local officials in Springfield have condemned the false claims of pet-eating, saying these rumours have deeply unsettled the community and triggered violent threats, forcing schools to close. President Joe Biden responded to the situation on Friday, calling the criticism of Haitians in Springfield “simply wrong” and urging for calm.
"This has to stop, what he’s doing. It has to stop," Biden said, in response to Trump's remarks.
Trump's deportation promise follows a week of misinformation about migrants allegedly killing pets and even children in Springfield. These accusations, which Trump repeated during a debate with Kamala Harris earlier in the week, have been debunked by local authorities, including the Springfield police chief, the town's mayor, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
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Meanwhile on Friday, three schools in Springfield were evacuated due to bomb threats, some of which included anti-Haitian sentiments, according to Springfield Mayor Bob Rue. This followed similar incidents on Thursday, when several buildings, including one school, were evacuated due to threats.
When asked during a press conference in Los Angeles whether he planned to visit Springfield, Trump responded, “I can say this, we will do large deportations from Springfield, Ohio – large deportations. We're going to get these people out. We're bringing them back to Venezuela."
Although the migrants in Springfield are primarily from Haiti and are legally in the US under a federal programme for Haitians, Trump also made repeated references to Venezuelan migrants, particularly those arriving in Aurora, Colorado, and suggested that deportations would begin there as well if he wins the upcoming presidential election.
(With inputs from agencies)
