Many Haitians Prospered in Springfield, Ohio. Then Came the Hate.
The New York Times
A young family came to love the city where they rebuilt their lives and bought a home. Since a false rumor spread, they have scrapped outings, even to the park.
Sadrac and Gerda Delva found happiness again in Springfield.
After fleeing political corruption and violent intimidation in Haiti, the Delvas felt cocooned in the safety of the small Ohio city where they arrived in 2021 and rebuilt their lives.
The couple had steady jobs. Their young daughters were thriving. On weekends, the family of five visited nearby Buck Creek State Park and worshiped at a local church. They moved into what they thought would be their forever home.
“We were very comfortable here, thinking Springfield is our place,” Mr. Delva said in an interview, almost two years to the day since receiving the keys to a cream-colored, three-bedroom house.
It has been a month since former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, injected Springfield into the election by spreading baseless rumors about Haitians abducting and eating pets. But many immigrants are still shaken, reordering their daily routines and reconsidering whether to stay where they feel unwanted and unsafe.
