COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s campaign and his allies are amplifying false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets, another instance of the inflammatory and anti-immigrant rhetoric Trump has promoted throughout his campaigns.

There's no evidence that Haitian immigrants in an Ohio community are doing that, officials say, but Trump's campaign and vice presidential nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance, along with other Republicans this week, repeated the claims.

Trump's campaign, which has hit Vice President Kamala Harris for her leadership role in President Joe Biden’s administration on the U.S.-Mexico border, issued a press release Monday, the day before Tuesday's presidential debate, suggesting “Kamala Migrants Ravage Ohio City.” Vance, Trump's running mate, posted Tuesday that his office has “received many inquiries” about Haitian migrants abducting pets.

Vance acknowledged Tuesday it was possible “all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”

Officials have said there have been no credible or detailed reports about the claims, even as Trump and his allies use them to amplify racist stereotypes about Black and brown immigrants.

While president, Trump questioned why the U.S. would accept people from so-called “s—-hole” countries like Haiti and places in Africa. His 2024 campaign has focused heavily on illegal immigration, often referencing in his speeches crimes committed by migrants. He argues immigrants are responsible for...

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