During the most recent U.S. presidential debate, more than 67 million viewers watched as Donald Trump falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating dogs, cats, and other household pets. The unsubstantiated and racially charged statement, however, was already being advanced by right-wing individuals including Trump’s running mate Senator JD Vance. Many of these assertions derive from police bodycam footage showing a woman being arrested for killing and eating a cat, a video that was later found to be unrelated to the town of Springfield or the Haitian immigrant community. Although city officials told BBC Verify that there is no credible report that this event has taken place, the rumor has continued to proliferate on social media. Following the virality of this conspiracy theory, threats of bombs, shootings, and other acts of violence have upended the lives of people in Springfield, specifically the Haitian community, demonstrating the negative, real-life implications of Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric.

Since Trump launched his first presidential campaign in 2016, the demonization of immigrants has remained central to his bid for the presidency. By weaponizing an “us versus them” narrative through the portrayal of immigrants as dangerous criminals who are stealing jobs and “poisoning the blood of America,” Trump has been able to use immigration as a scapegoat to successfully benefit off the grievances of working-class individuals who seek someone to blame for their economic struggles. While much of his language regarding immigration has been based on falsehoods, his anti-immigration stance has provided racist individuals with a platform, empowering them to commit hate crimes against individuals they have deemed outsiders. For example, according to the New York Times, in 2019, U.S. hate crime incidents increased by 2.75%, the highest level in more than a decade according to an FBI report.

Once again, the negative effects of Trump’s false and divisive statements are unfolding in real time. Soon after the debate, city buildings and schools were forced to close after receiving bomb threats against Haitians, with many parents reporting that they are now fearful of sending their kids to school, creating an atmosphere of stress, anxiety, and unpredictability. Vilbrun Dorsainvil, an immigrant from Haiti, expressed similar sentiments according to Al Jazeera, stating, “Right now, I’m afraid there may be a mass shooting on us. That would be terrible.”

The majority of Haitian migrants in Springfield arrived in the U.S. in the past four years, with the hope of obtaining stability, safety, and job opportunities after fleeing their country due to gang-related violence and high rates of poverty. Many are recipients of Temporary Protected Status, a designation that gives nationals of a country the opportunity to remain in the U.S. legally for a certain amount of time. Despite claims by Trump that Haitian migrants in Ohio are “destroying their way of life,” Haitian immigrants have actually helped confront a disastrous labor shortage in Ohio, substantially helping Springfield’s economy and workforce, according to Republican Governor Mike DeWine.

With the possibility of another Trump presidency, the dehumanizing attacks against immigrants have negative implications for American democracy. By vilifying immigrants and spreading disinformation about their effects on the country, citizens become unwilling to have constructive dialogue with one another, resulting in a polarized environment where diverse perspectives are overlooked, making it challenging to find common ground and ensure a healthy democracy. Additionally, as evidenced by the events in Springfield, anti-immigration policies often result in discrimination, unequal treatment, and a lack of rights in specific communities, contradicting the democratic ethos of equality and justice for all. In order for the U.S. to understand its demographic and social realities, it is essential that we move away from the idea that immigration is a partisan topic and instead accept that this country is largely comprised of people from all over the world.

Although Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is not a new phenomenon, we must not become numb to the dangers these words hold. His nonsense statements are not just words—they are the motivators for harming entire communities and undermining the salience of democratic norms.