Another Midwestern Town Struggles with Influx of Haitian Migrants

Another small Midwestern town is reeling under the strain of a massive influx of migrants, this time in Logansport, Indiana. A sudden surge of Haitian migrants, estimated to number between 3,000 and 5,000, has taken the town by surprise. For a community of just 18,000 people, the pressure on local resources and safety is becoming unbearable. Surrounding areas aren't immune either, with a county-wide migrant population now reaching roughly 11,000.

Residents, left without clear answers from officials, are raising concerns about public safety and the rapid depletion of city resources. Mayor Chris Martin admitted there are significant "assimilation issues," but the situation on the ground appears even more alarming. Locals, like Nancy Baker, recount disturbing incidents. Baker's 16-year-old daughter was chased by migrants after she refused to engage with them. In another instance, Candice Espinoza, 32, described how migrants routinely stand outside her home, holding up their phones and possibly recording her.

“It’s not safe. They just stare at you and won’t talk to you,” Espinoza said. “You don’t feel easy when someone is constantly watching you.”

Logansport schools are feeling the strain as well. The number of Haitian students has increased 15-fold since 2021, overwhelming teachers who struggle to bridge the language gap. As a result, American students are being left behind. Baker’s daughter, frustrated by the lack of attention, ultimately dropped out of public school and switched to online classes. “Nobody was getting the attention they needed. It’s way too many kids, and it seemed to her that because they didn’t speak the language, they were getting more attention,” Baker said.

The Biden administration's policies have exacerbated the problem. Since January 2023, over 200,000 Haitians have been allowed into the U.S. through parole programs, with an additional 300,000 granted Temporary Protected Status. This has only accelerated the arrival of migrants in small towns across the Midwest, from Ohio to Pennsylvania, as businesses and nonprofits fuel the influx by hiring migrant workers.

Reports have linked the surge of Haitian migrants in Logansport to Tyson Foods, a meatpacking giant that has come under scrutiny for employing a substantial number of foreign workers. With 42,000 foreign employees over a third of its U.S. workforce Tyson has been accused of prioritizing cheap migrant labor over American workers. Conservative watchdog America First Legal even called on the Department of Justice to investigate Tyson for its employment practices.

Other Midwestern towns, like Springfield, Ohio, and Charleroi, Pennsylvania, are facing similar challenges. Springfield, a town of just 60,000, has seen an influx of 20,000 Haitian migrants in recent years. Charleroi experienced a 2,000% increase in its immigration population. The consequences in these towns mirror those in Logansport: increased traffic violations, housing shortages, strained law enforcement, and a glaring lack of cultural assimilation.

Residents of Logansport are asking when their town will be prioritized again. In the meantime, their resources, safety, and children’s futures hang in the balance.

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