Leaders in the US state of Ohio are trying to douse baseless rumours that Haitian immigrants in a town there have been eating residents' pets as food. The allegations have percolated up through right-wing media and were amplified by Donald Trump at his presidential debate with Kamala Harris on Tuesday.

This is something that came up on the internet, and the internet can be quite crazy sometimes, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. On Tuesday, a parent in the town of Springfield accused Republicans of politically exploiting his son's death in a crash caused by a Haitian migrant.

Authorities say some 15,000 migrants of Haitian origin have resettled over the past couple of years in Springfield, a south-western Ohio town with a population of less than 60,000 people. Some local residents have expressed frustration over the influx, saying the newcomers are straining city resources, from housing to healthcare.

In recent weeks unsubstantiated claims have surfaced on social media that the migrants are abducting and eating animals, from pet cats and dogs to park ducks. Trump, his running mate JD Vance, the world's richest man Elon Musk and other conservatives have amplified the reports. But Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said on Tuesday that we have not been able to verify any credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.

The news story regarding a cat being killed or consumed did not originate in Springfield, he added. It actually involved a Canton woman who was arrested for animal cruelty last month. Canton is an Ohio city north-east of Springfield.

I think we go with what the mayor says, Governor DeWine told CBS on Wednesday. He knows his city. A moderate Republican who has endorsed Trump's re-election bid, DeWine has pledged to invest in Springfield's healthcare and education systems to address its unprecedented population increase, but he also defended the newcomers.

These Haitians came in here to work because there were jobs, and they filled a lot of jobs. And if you talk to employers, they've done a very, very good job and they work very, very hard, he said. On Thursday Springfield officials evacuated city hall following reports of a bomb threat. It is not yet known whether the incident was connected to the immigration controversy.

En un discurso emitido a través de su red social de Instagram, John Legend le pide a los residentes de Springfield, acoger a los migrantes en sus casas. En la publicación del video, el artista salió a defender a su natal Ohio, después de que el candidato republicano Donald Trump acusara a los migrantes haitianos de comerse las mascotas de los residentes de Springfield.

Esta acusación se dio durante el debate contra la candidata demócrata Kamala Harris, el pasado martes 10 de septiembre. Nadie come gatos, nadie come perros, dice parte de su discurso, en relación con las falsas acusaciones que lanzó el presidenciable Trump. Las autoridades locales declararon que no hubo ninguna denuncia que confirmara tal afirmación del magnate y expresidente de Estados Unidos.

Legend declaró que los inmigrantes haitianos llegaron a la región a ocupar plazas de trabajo y casas de forma legal. Tenemos alrededor de 15 mil inmigrantes mudándose a mi ciudad de 60 mil habitantes, explicó Legend. Ahora se podría decir: 'Vaya, hay mucha gente para una ciudad que antes sólo tenía 60 mil. Eso es un aumento del 25%. Así es'.

Seguidamente, instó a los ciudadanos a abrazar a los haitianos que están llegando a la localidad en busca de nuevas oportunidades. Asimismo, pide paciencia con ellos porque él sabe qué es difícil tratar con nueva población, idioma, cultura y preferencias alimentarias.

Los comentarios en pro y en contra del discurso del artista, no se hicieron esperar. Uno de los primeros famosos en felicitarlo por sus palabras fue el cantante Ricky Martin, quien el 12 de septiembre dio un concierto en Guatemala y escribió: thank you, John. Por otra parte, hubo personas molestas con el discurso y no dudaron en escribir sus comentarios, tales como Qué tal se les damos tu dirección? Tienes los medios para apoyar a estas personas, Practica lo que dices vende tu mansión de LA (o mejor aún deja que los inmigrantes se muden a ella y múdate a un barrio promedio de Springfield, manifestaron sus seguidores.

Republican candidate for Vice President JD Vance is falsely claiming people are having their pets kidnapped and eaten in Springfield, Ohio. JD Vance picked up a story from social media about someone claiming they know someone who knows someone who knows about a thing. Claiming migrants are eating people's pets in Springfield required the police to debunk his claims. Others have also picked up on this gross attack on people seeking asylum, and there are now claims of people eating park ducks in Georgia as well.

A social media post originally from a Springfield Facebook group went viral nationally in recent days. The original poster did not cite first-hand knowledge of an incident. Instead they claimed that their neighbor's daughter's friend had lost her cat and found it hanging from a branch at a Haitian neighbor's home being carved up to be eaten. The poster also claimed Rangers and police told them that they have been doing it at Snyder Park, too, with ducks and geese. Springfield Police said they were aware of the social media post but that this was not something that's on our radar right now. The post received tens of thousands of impressions.

President Biden on Friday ripped former President Donald Trump for spreading allegations that Haitian immigrants are eating people's pets in Springfield, Ohio. Speaking at the Black Excellence Brunch at the White House, Mr. Biden spoke about his press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, whom he hailed as a proud Haitian-American.

The Haitian-American community is under attack right now, Mr. Biden said. There's no place in America for this. It has to stop. What he's doing has to stop. During the presidential debate Tuesday night, Mr. Trump repeated the unproven claim previously amplified by his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, Mr. Trump said. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there. Springfield has an estimated 10,000 Haitians out of about 58,000 total residents. Mr. Vance has acknowledged stories about immigrants eating cats might not be true, but his state office has been getting many inquiries about it.

Likewise, John Legend echoed similar sentiments defending the Haitian immigrants and striving for a compassionate and inclusive approach. He recalled the rich migrant history of the United States, emphasizing that they came looking for better opportunities just like previous generations of German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Jamaican, and Polish immigrants. Legend emphasized the importance of community support and understanding the challenges immigrants face in a new cultural and social environment.

He urged Springfield inhabitants to remember the values of kindness and empathy, stating that the desire for a better life is a universal one. Legend pointed out that the Haitian immigrants have come to Springfield because they found employment opportunities and they contribute to the local economy, contrary to the divisive rhetoric being circulated.

President Biden also called for an end to xenophobic and racist lies about the immigrant community, highlighting the need to foster a spirit of unity and acceptance in the country. He stressed that the contributions of the Haitian community and their drive for the American dream should be celebrated, not vilified. Meanwhile, Ohio authorities have continued to refute the baseless claims, urging the citizens to rely on verified information rather than internet-induced hysteria.