Haitians helped boost Springfield’s economy – now they’re fleeing in fear of Trump

Ohio city's economic fortunes spiral and local businesses suffer as Haitians leave due to administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies

Every morning, Alicia Mercado makes the 50-minute drive from her home in Columbus to Springfield, where she runs the Adasa Latin Market store. She opened the business next to a Haitian restaurant in 2023, having spotted a gap in the market for Caribbean and Latin foods - the neighborhood's Haitian population was booming at the time.

But over the past year, she says her business, which includes an international money transfer kiosk, has taken a major hit.