In a small town in Pennsylvania, residents are expressing their frustrations through posters reading, “Foreigners and Haitians, stay away. America can’t accommodate this filth,” highlighting rising tensions in the community. These sentiments have been fueled by unfounded rumors from some Republican circles claiming that immigrants are harming local pets, particularly affecting Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and subsequently impacting Haitian communities across the nation.

Sarah Jacques, a 22-year-old Haitian woman who moved from Port-au-Prince to Albertville, Alabama, just a year ago, describes her life as turned upside down. “When I first arrived, people waved at us and greeted us, but now it’s different. When people see you, their expressions are either silent or filled with fear,” she shares candidly.

According to reports from the Associated Press, President Biden offered a temporary reprieve in 2023, allowing up to 30,000 immigrants monthly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally. Recently, about 300,000 Haitian immigrants were authorized to remain in the country until February 2026.

Data shows that Alabama had around 2,370 Haitian immigrants in 2023, with Robin Lathan, the executive secretary for Albertville, noting a steady increase in the immigrant population over the past 30 years. “Especially last year, we saw an uptick in numbers,” she adds. The local school district reported that out of 5,800 students last year, 34% came from non-English-speaking immigrant families, a significant rise from 17% in 2017.

Tensions escalated this August in Springfield when a local man’s bus ride to a chicken processing plant triggered rampant speculation about the hiring of illegal immigrants. This led to community meetings where some locals demanded explanations about the legal work rights of Haitians and others suggested landlords deny housing to them, even insinuating that immigrants have body odor.

Unique Dunson, a 27-year-old lifelong resident, admits, “Whenever non-white immigrants arrive in our community, it seems like issues arise.” In response to the hostile atmosphere, Dunson has been putting up signs that read, “Welcome, new neighbors! We’re glad you are here,” in English, Spanish, and Creole.

John Pierre-Charles, a Haitian pastor in the town since 2006, has seen his congregation grow from seven to nearly 300 members over the past 14 years. However, he acknowledges the cloud of fear that has settled over the Haitian community in recent months. “Some people are very scared, fearing they might be deported back to Haiti, while others are worried about how others might act towards them,” he states.