Here’s another good story, from NPR, published August 12, 2024 - so, about a month before the debate, and all the mess about eating pets.
The Haitians have been coming since 2020, so it’s not as if they showed up overnight. By now they have established restaurants and churches and are part of the community. Everyone I see discussing this on the r/Ohio subreddit (which does lean left) who is actually from Springfield or near Springfield says that the people are not problematic, but yes some of the city resources are taxed.
I suspect the people came just like any other groups of immigrants came - a small handful found work there, and word spread quickly that opportunities remained (one of the immigrants interviewed in the above-linked story says he “heard there was work in Springfield”), and then by establishing themselves culturally in the community, it makes it desirable for others to settle there with their families.
I’ve not read extensively about immigration in America from other countries, but I have read a couple books on the topic of Slovak immigrants in Cleveland (this is how my family got to be here, in the 1920s) and it’s pretty much the same story. A few people come through, they get good jobs and like the place, they build a church, now there’s a sense of community and a base for support, and everybody from the old country trickles in.
It seems to me that American cities have always been shaped this way. And it always comes with a bunch of hate. Things are just turned up to 11 now with the ability for everyone in the world to see video of angry ranting at council meetings on video, and a presidential candidate spreading horrifying rumors on live TV.