Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is stepping up and ordering an investigation into what he’s calling “extreme population growth” in Springfield, courtesy of a flood of migrants into the city. And yes, things have gotten so wild that the national spotlight is now on allegations that Haitian immigrants are snatching up park ducks, cats, and other animals for dinner. Even Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance couldn’t resist weighing in on the drama.
Yost, in a news release, didn’t dive into those specific claims, but he made it clear Springfield, with a population of around 58,000, has ballooned by over a third because of the migrant influx. People in the area are raising alarms about immigrants supposedly stealing property, including livestock, and squatting in homes. And yes, there’s also talk about migrants killing wildlife for food. It’s safe to say this situation has spiraled out of control.
Yost didn’t hold back, asking some pretty pointed questions: How much more can Springfield take? Is there any limit to what the federal government can dump on Ohio? He painted a picture of a federal system funneling in millions of migrants while local communities are left to fend for themselves. “There’s got to be a limiting principle,” Yost argued, adding that he’s determined to take this chaos to a federal judge and get some answers.
“The issue isn’t just migrants,” Yost pointed out. “It’s too many, all at once, with no plan or support from the federal government.” Sounds like Yost is gearing up for a legal showdown, and frankly, he’s not wrong. The population surge has happened with zero communication from the powers that be in Washington, leaving Springfield to deal with the mess.
Meanwhile, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a nonprofit helping Haitian immigrants, didn’t have much to say when contacted. The same goes for the Springfield Police, who’ve been silent on the allegations of pets and park animals disappearing into dinner pots. Springfield’s Strategic Engagement Manager, Karen Graves, has been doing some damage control, telling the media there’s been no credible evidence of immigrants harming pets or squatting illegally. But, with JD Vance throwing fuel on the fire by claiming people’s pets have been abducted and eaten, things are only heating up.
