Haitian elected officials in Florida condemn GOP’s ‘racist stereotypes’

Florida elected officials of Haitian descent are speaking out after former President Donald Trump doubled down on false attacks against Haitian immigrants made by his vice-presidential pick, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance.

Of the nearly half-million Haitian Americans in the Sunshine State, one represents Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives, three sit in the Florida House of Representatives, and several more serve in municipal governments. Florida is home to more Haitians than any other state, according to World Population Review.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, representing the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach area, said Trump intended to create fear and division.

“Donald Trump is once again fixating on fictitious stories rooted in racist stereotypes in hopes of scaring Americans into voting for him,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a news release.

Vance claimed that “people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.” False claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, started in a Facebook group focused on local crime, NBC News reported.

Vance made the claim on social media, saying “where is our border czar?” — a title Republicans have attached to Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Facebook post quickly made headlines this week, with Trump repeating the claim during his debate with Harris on Tuesday.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said.

Police in the area say they have “no credible reports” of immigrants hurting pets.

“His outrageous comment about immigrants eating Springfield, Ohio, residents’ pets is nothing more than a desperate attempt to stoke fear and division,” Cherfilus-McCormick, the first Haitian American Democrat elected to Congress, said.

“It’s insulting, it’s false, and it’s rooted in the worst kinds of stereotypes. Let’s be clear: Haitians and other immigrants come to this country committed to education, hard work, and building a better life, not just for themselves but for all of us. They contribute to our economy, enrich our culture, and strengthen our communities. Trump’s comments are a distraction from the real issues we face, and we won’t be fooled.”

According to the Florida Immigrant Coalition, all elected officials of Haitian descent it asked to comment on the matter responded except Florida Rep. Berny Jacques, a Republican.

Rep. Dotie Joseph, the state House minority leader pro tempore, said Vance’s comments were racist and xenophobic.

“As a lawyer, the VP-wannabe knows how to research, so he certainly knew and should have known that his racist and xenophobic claims are false — even if he doesn’t ‘practice’ law,” Joseph said in the news release.

“But when you don’t have integrity you don’t care about truth, you don’t care about the impact on people, and you just want attention. I am also a graduate of Yale, and also happen to be a lawyer engaged in public service, but unlike the shameless comment, I believe in truth, integrity, and loving thy neighbor.”

Joseph, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the same institution where Vance earned his law degree, said “we all see” that Vance is “losing and desperate for political attention.”

Vance referred to Haitians who live in Springfield as “illegal immigrants.” The city of Springfield website states otherwise: “Haitian immigrants are here legally, under the Immigration Parole Program.”

Vance, who represents Ohio, was joined by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, in claiming Haitian immigrants do such things.

“Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don’t eat us,” Cruz posted to X with a picture of kitten.

The House Judiciary Committee Republicans’ X account made a similar post, saying “Protect our ducks and kittens in Ohio!” with an artificial intelligence-generated image of Trump with a duck and cat.

‘Agenda of hate and chaos’

State Rep. Marie Woodson said she refuses to believe “those who also care deeply about this country will support the continuation of the Trump-Vance agenda of hate and chaos.”

“For those who do not believe former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance for their disdain of immigrants who do not look like them, it was made crystal clear at the recent debate with Vice President Harris,” Woodson said.

“Trump’s unhinged rants about migrants indicate he has no problem spreading lies and vicious characterizations about Haitians and others. Which group will he use next to divide and put fear in our neighbors, friends, and workplaces? Migrants are human and should not be treated as pawns for a selfish goal of divide and conquer.”

U.S. Reps. Maxwell Frost and Cherfilus-McCormick spoke out about Vance’s comments earlier this week before Trump reiterated them at the debate Tuesday.

Also speaking out were Miami-Dade Commissioner Marleine Bastien, Coral Springs Commissioner Nancy Metayer Bowen, North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, and North Miami City Clerk Vanessa Joseph.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and X.