Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has launched an investigation into the federal government’s relocation of thousands of immigrants to Springfield, exploring legal options to limit the number of new arrivals. The city, which has seen an influx of up to 20,000 Haitian immigrants, has been grappling with a surge in crime and economic strain, according to local residents.
Yost criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies, calling the sudden relocation of so many immigrants “absurd.” He expressed concern over the impact on Springfield, a city of 60,000, which has grown by more than a third due to the new arrivals. Yost’s investigation aims to find a legal path to challenge the federal government’s actions.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also raised alarms, pointing to increased health care costs and a rise in infectious diseases like tuberculosis. He blamed the current administration for making choices that harm local communities without offering sufficient support.
Gov. Mike DeWine, while supportive of programs that provide temporary legal status to immigrants, echoed concerns about the lack of federal assistance. DeWine has committed $2.5 million to help local health care services cope with the demands posed by the influx of new residents.
Both Yost and DeWine emphasized that the problem isn’t immigration, but the overwhelming number of people arriving in such a short timeframe, which has placed an unsustainable burden on the community.
