Months after national attention focused on Springfield, Ohio, over its handling of an influx of Haitian migrants, local residents say little has changed. On Chicago’s Morning Answer, Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson spoke with Satis Kelly, a longtime resident and former Republican Party official, who described continued strain on the city’s schools, housing, and public services, while accusing local leaders of prioritizing profit over accountability.
The city of 60,000 has absorbed roughly 20,000 Haitian migrants over the past three years, according to reporting by Newsweek’s Dario Morrow. Kelly said the influx, many of whom entered the U.S. via the southern border and were resettled in the Midwest, has overwhelmed Springfield’s infrastructure. “We still have the same issues in the schools,” she said. “And it’s springtime, and we still have no ducks. You go to the park, and they’re gone. Just Canadian geese left.”
Kelly previously warned about deteriorating housing conditions in the city. She says many Haitians are living in formerly condemned buildings without heat or plumbing. “They’ve been seen bathing in local creeks,” she said, adding that there has been no significant reduction in the population despite reports of self-deportation. “They’re not going back to Haiti. They’re just moving to other Ohio cities like Columbus.”
The school system is under particular pressure, with hundreds of new students—most non-English speakers—entering classrooms with little notice or preparation. “The first week of school, they had 300 new Haitian students,” Kelly said. “It’s costing about $10,000 per student to educate them, and teachers are struggling.”
Housing affordability has also become a flashpoint. According to Kelly, landlords are evicting longtime tenants to rent to migrant families at higher rates, often with government subsidies supplementing rent payments. “My daughter was kicked out of her apartment after ten years,” she said. “She was told it was for feeding stray cats, but she was the only non-Haitian left in the building.”
Kelly also questioned the motivation of some city leaders. “Our mayor rents property to Haitians,” she alleged. “He also owns a funeral home. I find that interesting.” She noted a recent public appearance by the mayor in which he apologized for his “white privilege” while standing with members of the Haitian community.
Local officials, Kelly claimed, have resisted enforcement or action. “We have a new sheriff who says he hasn’t gotten clear direction, so he’s just waiting to be told what to do,” she said.
Despite calls for reform, Kelly said state and federal lawmakers have made little progress. She remains in regular contact with staff from Sen. J.D. Vance’s office and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign. “They’re trying their best,” she said. “But we need the Senate to pass real laws. In the meantime, nothing’s changing. People are still making money.”
Asked whether Springfield residents feel abandoned, Kelly replied without hesitation. “Absolutely. We’re being ignored at every level of government—and most of the officials are Republicans.”
She also expressed skepticism about the jobs claim that had accompanied the migrant arrivals. “We were told there were 20,000 jobs no one would fill,” Kelly said. “But nobody ever saw job listings. These positions were never advertised. Migrants were brought in to work at lower wages in local factories and warehouses.”
Kelly remains deeply frustrated. “We’re not against people coming here legally and contributing. But this is not sustainable. It’s been a complete failure of leadership.”
With no changes in sight, Kelly says the people of Springfield continue to wait—and watch. “As soon as they start removing them, I’ll let you know,” she added. “But I’m not holding my breath.”