(2-9-26) Tensions increased today (Feb. 9) when several Clark County offices in Springfield received bomb threats that referenced Haitian immigrants. The incident closed schools early and prompted police to block off part of downtown as they investigated suspicious packages left at two buildings.

FBI statement–

“The FBI addresses these threats with the utmost seriousness, as they put innocent lives at risk and are a federal crime. While we have no information to indicate a credible threat, we are currently working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as soon as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.”

Gov. DeWine–

“We are really at a point where we don’t know what will happen next.But the important fact is that the Haitians who are here under TPS are still here legally under that and they can still be employed at this point.”

An estimated 15,000 Haitians live in Springfield − about one-fourth of its population − and another 30,000 live in central Ohio.

Comparison– Celina has a population of approximately 11,017 residents as of 2023

The estimated population of Lima, Ohio in 2025 is approximately 34,690.

Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine 

“For many, many years, we’ve worked with a school in Haiti that’s named for our daughter, Becky, that we lost, and so we’ve been down there many, many times. We actually helped establish the school because we saw the extreme poverty that they had there in Haiti.”

So we’ve kind of watched what’s going on in Springfield, and we’ve talked to employers and people and found out, really, the employers love their Haitian workers. They said they work hard, they wanted to work overtime, they never have trouble passing a drug test. They’re just stellar workers.

And so, we’ve been watching that. And we know that they have helped to raise the economy in Springfield. And so we’re happy that this, at least for now, that the status has not changed. And we’re happy. And, you know, we’re just all praying for good things to happen in Springfield for everyone.”

Haiti