Haitian influx causing one major safety concern among Springfield residents

Longtime residents of Springfield, Ohio, expressed concerns for their safety, but some also argued the city has an opportunity to give migrants a better life in the U.S.

The comments come as longtime residents of Springfield, Ohio, have grappled with a new reality in recent years, with the town taking in thousands of Haitian migrants since 2021. According to the city's website, the total number of immigrants in Clark County, of which Springfield is the county seat, is between 12,000 and 15,000. The influx of people to the town, which the 2020 census showed had a population of just around 60,000, has caused tension in the town, locals told Fox News Digital, especially on the roads. Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.

"They hit my kid’s fence," a Springfield resident named Mike O’Brien told Fox News Digital. "They backed into my kids fence, it cost us $400 to get fixed… they can’t drive. It’s just really, really outrageous, it’s inexplicable… every day I get up, and I feel less secure in my own little community that I was born in."