In a dramatic legal escalation, the Haitian Bridge Alliance has filed an affidavit seeking the arrest of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, over false claims made about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio. The affidavit, filed Tuesday in Clark County Municipal Court, accuses Trump and Vance of spreading dangerous misinformation that has led to a wave of bomb threats and disruptions in the small Midwestern town.
At the center of the allegations is Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a San Diego-based organization that advocates for Haitian immigrants. Jozef argues that Trump and Vance violated Ohio laws by knowingly making false statements about the Haitian community in Springfield, which she claims has caused “massive disruptions to public services” and placed the local Haitian population in harm’s way. The affidavit demands that a judge—not the prosecutor’s office—review the request and issue arrest warrants for Trump and Vance.
The legal move follows a string of public statements from Trump and Vance, most notably during a presidential debate, where Trump falsely claimed that Haitians in Springfield were “eating the dogs and cats” of local residents. The baseless accusation has been debunked by city officials, but the damage had already been done.
Since the comments were made, Springfield has been rocked by at least 33 bomb threats, leading to the closure of schools, businesses, and government offices. The threats have heightened fears and tensions in the town, where a growing Haitian population has become the target of these dangerous narratives.
Jozef’s affidavit accuses Trump and Vance of violating seven Ohio statutes, including making false statements, aggravated menacing, and inciting public alarm. The affidavit draws a stark parallel between Trump and Vance’s rhetoric and falsely shouting “fire” in a crowded theater, arguing that the duo’s actions fall outside the protections of the First Amendment and amount to criminal behavior. “Trump and Vance do not color within the lines of the First Amendment. They commit criminal acts,” the document reads.
Springfield, a city of 60,000 residents, has seen a significant increase in its Haitian population in recent years. Many of these immigrants have legal status under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or humanitarian visas granted by the Biden administration. Contrary to Trump and Vance’s claims, most of these immigrants have come to Springfield for job opportunities and lower living costs, compared to more established Haitian communities in Florida and New York. Yet Trump and Vance have repeatedly described the community as “illegal,” further fueling the false narrative that has led to public unrest.
The Trump campaign has dismissed the accusations, with communications director Steven Cheung defending the former president’s statements. Cheung reiterated the campaign’s focus on highlighting what they see as the Biden administration’s failure to control immigration, saying, “President Trump will secure our border and put an end to the chaos that illegal immigration brings to our communities.”
However, local officials and residents in Springfield have been vocal about the damage these claims have caused. While the town has long dealt with its share of challenges, the falsehoods about the Haitian community have brought a new level of fear and anxiety. Springfield officials have repeatedly stated that there is no evidence to support the allegations of animal killings or disease-bearing immigrants, yet Trump and Vance’s rhetoric has continued to escalate.
In a broader context, this case touches on a critical debate about the limits of free speech and the responsibilities of public figures. By seeking the arrest of Trump and Vance, Jozef and the Haitian Bridge Alliance are arguing that there are real-world consequences to dangerous misinformation—especially when it targets vulnerable communities and leads to public panic.
