The influx of over 30,000 Haitian migrants to Springfield, Ohio, has had a devastating impact on the city's housing, jobs, healthcare, and safety, according to residents like Mark Sanders. Sanders spoke to Fox News about the crisis, expressing concerns about unchecked illegal immigration and the need for the community to feel safe and have access to essential resources.
Springfield, Ohio, resident Mark Sanders has detailed the profound impact that the influx of tens of thousands of illegal immigrants has had on his community. Sanders appeared on "Jesse Watters Primetime" to share the challenges faced by the city of 60,000 residents who have witnessed a surge of Haitian migrants over the past two years.
"About 30,000 Haitians have come to Springfield in the past two years," Sanders said. "It's created a housing crisis, a jobs crisis, and a healthcare crisis."
Residents of Springfield, Ohio, Lament Devastation Caused by Influx of Haitian Migrants
The influx of migrants has put a severe strain on Springfield's housing market. "Life-long residents have been moved out of their homes that they've rented for decades. People who own their homes have accepted very high offers and then they've been turned into basically dormitories by landlords, both American and Haitian," Sanders explained. "There's a lot of greed on both sides of the fence."
Sanders also highlighted concerns about the impact on infrastructure and traffic safety. "Our roads are like it's like 'Escape from New York'.. You don't know if you're going to get from point A to point B without getting run over," he said.
Residents of Springfield, Ohio, Lament Devastation Caused by Influx of Haitian Migrants
Another issue raised by Sanders was the lack of proper transportation and housing for the migrants. "A temporary staffing service, that actually is probably employing about 95% of those that have arrived here that are working. Many aren't. Not everybody's working. And people will say that not everybody is. But the staffing service owns 63 homes. Those homes are used as dormitories. They shuttle the workers to and from their jobs. And, you know, they go. He takes a portion of their check, charges them for transportation charges and for lodging," he said.
Sanders emphasized that "Springfield residents aren't 'anti-immigrant,' they just want the town to feel safe again and for its residents to have the resources they need." "Nothing can be further from the truth," Sanders said. "What we are is a city that only wants our safety, security, and sovereignty back."
Residents of Springfield, Ohio, Lament Devastation Caused by Influx of Haitian Migrants
Auto wrecks have also increased significantly since the migrants arrived. Last year, a Haitian migrant without a valid driver's license caused a school bus crash that injured dozens and killed a boy. Sanders noted that "our food pantries, they get stripped. Our clinic... is a federally funded clinic in town. Their budget was decimated. In Haitian, 'clinic' means 'hospital.' Our emergency rooms are overrun."
The migrant crisis in Springfield has also led to concerns about healthcare access. Sanders said that "of course, nobody's being compensated unless they've actually checked in with the Health Department and qualified for Medicaid."
Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have exchanged barbs over the issue. Trump has blamed the Biden administration's "open-border" policies for the problems in Springfield, while Harris has pledged to "Secure Our Borders and Fix Our Broken Immigration System."
Sanders expressed skepticism about Harris's pledge, saying, "I think Kamala is kind of like that spouse that cheats on you and says she'll stop when it's your anniversary. All the things she's promising to do she can do now. She just chooses not to," he told Watters. "She's not the one for the White House. She's not the one."
