Former President Donald Trump announced that he will visit Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, to address the rising concerns over the influx of migrants under the Biden administration’s policies, which he claims are leading to economic and social instability in these communities. The visits are planned within the next two weeks as Trump continues his campaign for the 2024 presidential election.
At a glance:
- Trump will visit Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, to address the effects of migration on local communities.
- The former president has criticized the Biden administration for allowing a surge in migrants, which he says has displaced American workers and caused economic harm.
- Trump emphasizes that he will deport migrants who entered the country illegally if re-elected, reversing Biden’s policies.
Speaking at a rally in Long Island, New York, on September 16, 2024, Trump said, “We’re going to take care of Ohio, and we’re going to take care of Colorado, and we’re going to take care of every single state in the union. They’re all under siege.” He criticized the mayor of Springfield for not addressing the issue of migrants taking local jobs and instead focusing on hiring teachers and interpreters for them.
The situation in Aurora has drawn attention due to reports of crime among migrants, particularly those from Venezuela, who were released into the U.S. without proper vetting. Trump emphasized that such policies are making communities unsafe and pledged to deport those who entered illegally if he wins the 2024 election.
In Springfield, Ohio, the migration crisis has been largely economic rather than criminal. The Biden administration’s decision to grant work permits and federal aid to migrants has led to a surge of up to 20,000 Haitians relocating to the city. The influx has strained local resources, driving up housing costs and lowering wages for American workers.
Residents have expressed frustration with the government’s focus on assisting migrants over locals. William Monaghan, a Springfield resident, told Breitbart News, “I know people who’ve applied for work at a lot of these same places that are hiring migrants … but they’re not getting jobs.” Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described how local aid agencies are overwhelmed with migrant applications, leaving native-born Americans without much-needed assistance.
Trump attributed the migration crisis to what he called “Bidenomics,” claiming that the administration’s policies were designed to flood the labor market with cheap foreign workers, thus depressing wages and creating a housing shortage. He argued that the economic challenges in Springfield were a result of government interference in the labor market, which prioritized migrants over American citizens.
Critics of Trump’s stance, such as Paul Krugman, an economist at The New York Times, acknowledged that migration can create temporary challenges, such as increased housing costs and strain on local services. However, Krugman and others argue that migrants have also helped revive the local economy in places like Springfield.
Adam Serwer, writing for The Atlantic, accused Trump of focusing on the race of the migrants rather than the real economic challenges facing the town. Serwer claimed that the arrival of Haitian migrants has bolstered Springfield’s economy, and that deporting them would undo the progress made.
Trump, however, dismissed such arguments, maintaining that the rapid influx of migrants has destabilized communities and eroded job opportunities for American citizens. He criticized the local leadership in Springfield for failing to push back against Biden’s policies and allowing the town to become a “dumping ground” for illegal migrants.
Trump’s visits to Springfield and Aurora will serve as part of his broader campaign message of reversing Biden’s migration policies, securing the border, and prioritizing the needs of American workers. He vowed to continue fighting for stricter immigration controls and to “bring America back to Americans.”
