Logansport, Indiana, is facing significant challenges as a surge of Haitian migrants has increased the county’s population by 30%, causing overcrowding in schools and frustration among residents. Many locals are directing their anger at the Biden-Harris administration, accusing them of failing to control the immigration crisis.
Candice Espinoza, a local photographer and mother of two, shared her concerns with The New York Post, stating, “Our community cannot withstand this many people being here.” Espinoza added that the overcrowded schools are directly impacting her children’s education. Nancy Baker, another resident, expressed similar frustration, saying, “If Kamala Harris came to my home, I would tell her to get off my property.”
One of the most visible effects of the migrant influx is in the local school system, where the Haitian student population has grown from 14 to 207 within a year. Baker’s high school-aged daughter, Cheyanne, dropped out of school after teachers focused much of their attention on non-English-speaking students, leaving other children behind. “You can’t just focus all your resources on one group of children and everybody else is falling behind,” Baker said.
Cheyanne has since enrolled in an online school, like many other students feeling neglected by the public system. Espinoza, whose children are also struggling in school, shared her concerns that the quality of education is dropping. “Their reading and comprehension are going to worsen because teachers are lowering expectations,” she explained.
Despite these issues, Logansport Mayor Chris Martin acknowledged the challenges posed by the sudden influx but attributed some of the problems to cultural differences. While he spoke about “assimilation issues,” many parents believe the overcrowding and lack of resources are driving the crisis.
Espinoza, like many others, plans to vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming election. “When he becomes president, that’s when our state will get better,” she said, expressing hope for stronger immigration control in the future.