More than 4,000 Haitians live in Minnesota, many under temporary protected status. Many say rhetoric targeting immigrants in Ohio and Pennsylvania adds to their stress and uncertainty.
Sahan Journal
Rose Mingo-Holtz was preparing for a class at her French language school in Minnetonka when she heard the news from her husband: Republican vice presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance was circulating a rumor about Haitian immigrants eating pets.
Her first reaction was incredulity. But when she turned on the TV, and later saw people reposting the false claims on social media, she began to feel alarmed.
“To be honest, I am trying to keep my calm,” she said. “I started to worry and I don’t want to receive threats against the school.”
Mingo-Holtz, who founded Mes Amis French School in 2005, is one of approximately 4,000 Haitian Minnesotans. Many are here under temporary protected status (TPS) or humanitarian parole. Others are U.S. citizens.
All say the false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, later amplified by former President Donald Trump, add to the stress and uncertainty they feel about their welcome here.
“Personally, it traumatizes me,” said Florencia Pierre, a Haitian artist and community organizer based in Minnesota. “You feel that you always have to fight to be appreciated by others; you’re so stressed that you develop cardiovascular illnesses.”
Pierre, also called Maman Fofo in the community, moved to the U.S. after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti....
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