Springfield, Ohio evacuates City Hall after bomb threat following Trump false anti-immigrant claims

Officials in Springfield, Ohio, evacuated City Hall on Thursday after receiving a bomb threat linked to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric, notably sparked by false claims made by former President Donald Trump about Haitian immigrants in the city.

The threat followed inflammatory remarks Trump made during a debate on Tuesday against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, where he falsely alleged that Haitian immigrants were abducting and eating pets in Springfield. “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats,” Trump claimed, continuing a pattern of rhetoric painting immigrants as dangerous, despite the lack of any evidence to support such assertions.

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, addressing the media, confirmed the bomb threat came from someone claiming to be a local resident angry about the influx of immigrants. “Due to a bomb threat that was issued to multiple facilities throughout Springfield today, City Hall is closed,” the city announced on social media.

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Despite repeated assurances from local officials that there is no truth to Trump’s claims, the narrative has continued to gain traction in far-right circles. Conservative politicians, including Trump’s running mate JD Vance, have also added fuel to the fire. Vance recently claimed, without evidence, that Springfield’s Haitian immigrant population has caused spikes in housing costs and communicable diseases. “In communities like Springfield, Ohio, where you have 20,000 Haitians who have come in, housing costs are unaffordable, communicable diseases are on the rise, and people can’t afford to live a good life in this small Ohio town,” Vance said on Thursday.

City officials have pushed back against these characterizations, pointing to the Haitian community’s legal status and positive contributions. Springfield’s municipal website notes that Haitian immigrants have settled in the area through the Immigration Parole Program and have helped boost the local economy by opening businesses and filling vital jobs in sectors like manufacturing and warehouse work.

The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, has left many Haitian residents fearful for their safety. The *Haitian Times* reported that local Haitians are increasingly concerned, with some residents experiencing acts of intimidation. One woman, speaking anonymously, said her niece is now afraid to attend school. “We’re all victims this morning,” she said. “They’re attacking us in every way.”

While bomb threats and divisive rhetoric have escalated, Springfield officials are standing firm in their support of the immigrant community, emphasizing the importance of dispelling dangerous misinformation that threatens public safety and community cohesion.