Editing Springfield, Ohio (section)

====Immigrant influx====
In 2014, the city began the "Welcome Springfield" initiative to attract immigrants in an attempt to improve the local economy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starr |first1=Stephen |title=How a child's death caused an Ohio city to turn on its Haitian community |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/12/12/how-a-childs-death-caused-an-ohio-city-to-turn-on-its-haitian-community |access-date=September 15, 2024 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English]] |date=December 12, 2023 |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918034644/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/12/12/how-a-childs-death-caused-an-ohio-city-to-turn-on-its-haitian-community |url-status=live }}</ref> About four years later, [[Haitians|Haitian]] immigrants fleeing their country's [[Haitian crisis (2018–present)|deepening crisis]] began to arrive.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brangham |first1=William |last2=Fecteau |first2=Mary |title=Ohio city with Haitian migrant influx thrust into political spotlight |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-city-with-haitian-migrant-influx-thrust-into-political-spotlight |access-date=September 15, 2024 |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |date=September 9, 2024 |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918034619/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-city-with-haitian-migrant-influx-thrust-into-political-spotlight |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 2024, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants had settled in the city. The vast majority later received [[temporary protected status]], which allows them to work without the fear of deportation, due to the [[Haitian crisis (2018–present)|crisis in Haiti]].<ref name="Turner">{{Cite web |title=Thousands of Haitian immigrants now in Springfield: 5 takeaways from our reporting |url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/thousands-of-haitian-immigrants-now-in-springfield-5-takeaways-from-our-reporting/QQFDZR6JAVCBNC6TGZGAEKE2JU/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Springfield News-Sun |language=en |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716212329/https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/thousands-of-haitian-immigrants-now-in-springfield-5-takeaways-from-our-reporting/QQFDZR6JAVCBNC6TGZGAEKE2JU/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Miriam |title=Why Thousands of Haitians Have Settled in Springfield, Ohio |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/14/us/haitian-migrants-springfield-ohio.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918034742/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/14/us/haitian-migrants-springfield-ohio.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Many were drawn by jobs with Springfield's growing [[manufacturing]] sector, which includes companies such as [[Topre]], Silfex, and McGregor Metal.<ref name="NYT-Jordan" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matt Sanctis |first=Staff Writer |title=Topre to expand, add 200 jobs, invest $73M in Springfield |url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/business/employment/topre-expand-add-200-jobs-invest-73m-springfield/yOchiR72VfIKqTD8X7nJxO/ |website=Springfield News-Sun |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311162942/https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/business/employment/topre-expand-add-200-jobs-invest-73m-springfield/yOchiR72VfIKqTD8X7nJxO/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley Newton |first=Staff Writer |title=New Silfex plant operating in Springfield; more hiring planned |url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/business/new-silfex-plant-operating-springfield-more-hiring-planned/CR4RxF0xjmfCro217SilyJ/ |website=Springfield News-Sun |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006021810/https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/business/new-silfex-plant-operating-springfield-more-hiring-planned/CR4RxF0xjmfCro217SilyJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The influx of Haitians triggered an increase in anti-immigrant sentiment among existing residents. In August 2023, tensions were aggravated when an improperly licensed Haitian driver crashed into a school bus, killing one child and injuring 23 others.<ref name="NYT-Jordan" /> In mid-2024, local politicians asked for federal assistance to fund an unexpected increased use of city services and to help with housing issues caused by the population increase.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orozco |first1=Jessica |title=Springfield leaders talk growing Haitian population with federal government |url=https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-leaders-discuss-growing-haitian-population-with-federal-government/EJWXEEGK2ZFN7N66GWPOPMDP2A/ |website=Springfield News-Sun |access-date=August 3, 2024 |date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Jordan">{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Miriam |title=How an Ohio Town Landed in the Middle of the Immigration Debate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/us/springfield-ohio-school-bus-crash-haiti-immigrants.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 7, 2024 |date=September 3, 2024 |archive-date=September 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914191557/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/us/springfield-ohio-school-bus-crash-haiti-immigrants.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Community organizations have hired significant numbers of [[Haitian Creole]] translators.<ref name="NYT-Jordan" />