The town of Springfield, Ohio, unexpectedly found itself in the national spotlight in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. At question was the town’s sizable community of Haitian migrants, which had grown mightily during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

And Springfield might soon be in the national spotlight once again because Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States is set to end on Feb. 3.

Will these Haitians head home, or will it fall to the Trump administration to enforce the law and remove the migrants?

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” President Donald Trump, then the GOP presidential nominee, said at the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

Democrat nominee and former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, chuckled.

The president’s comments on the debate stage perhaps marked the zenith in the contrast between Trump and Harris on the issue of immigration.

The day before the debate, then-Republican nominee for vice president JD Vance posted on X, “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”

Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.

Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar? pic.twitter.com/rf0EDIeI5i

While the story of Haitian immigrants eating pets and other animals remains controversial, what is not disputed is how the influx of Haitian migrants strained city resources.

Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, researched the issues in Springfield and went to see them with his own eyes.

Hankinson spoke to The Daily Signal about his findings.

While in Springfield, Hankinson visited a county services building. “There were a lot of people in line to sign on for........

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