Why is the Haitian population of Springfield, Ohio, booming? [Video]

Former President Donald Trump’s false and provocative claims about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, have cast a national spotlight on the small midwestern city and its migrant population.

The unsubstantiated rumors initially spread widely online — and were magnified by some right-wing politicians and Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance — after a series of social media posts went viral.

A spokesperson for the city of Springfield has told ABC News these claims are false, and there have been “no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals in the immigrant community.”

Still, a firestorm brought on by the Republican presidential candidate’s comments has eclipsed the complexities of the American immigration system and the geopolitical dynamics that have contributed to the rising number of Haitians seeking refuge in the United States — including the thousands who have settled in Springfield over the last roughly three years.

More than a decade of temporary protections

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