The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Magpie staff. 

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

This is the most recognizable passage from Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus,” written for and immortalized within the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of America and freedom.

These words symbolize America throughout much of its history. It symbolizes the immigration of the 19th and 20th centuries, to which most Americans can trace their ancestry. America has become the home for tens of millions looking for a better life, whether it was an Irish immigrant fleeing the hardships of the Irish Potato Famine or it is a refugee fleeing gang violence, human rights abuses or poor living conditions in the modern-day.

This has been the reality of America for much of its history. It has been a sanctuary for these peoples, and you will have difficulty finding many white Americans whose ancestors were not immigrants themselves. Yet, despite this simple fact, you will find many with the false belief that this country “belongs to them,” and that they are somehow entitled to keep it for themselves. Despite the fact most, if not all, of their ancestors would have immigrated, they deny the very same opportunity to those now seeking it.

Republicans, for their part, have only played into the xenophobia and racism against immigrants. This year, hate and lies against the Haitian population of Indiana, especially in Logansport, have been spread by Republican officials.

On Nov. 9, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, announced that he had sent civil investigative demands (CIDs) to multiple organizations in Logansport, including Tyson Foods, the Cass County Health Department and Logansport Community School Corporation over allegations of trafficking “illegal aliens” into Logansport, referring to the Haitian influx in recent years.

For the past several months now, several prominent Republicans and conservative media outlets have spread grossly false and hateful rhetoric regarding the Haitian population, including ridiculous claims that 11,000 Haitians have moved to Logansport and are “pushing white kids out of schools.” 

This investigation is only the latest action by the Republican Party to attack and spread fear of illegal immigrants “invading” the state. Although concerns about Tyson exploiting immigrants may have substance, the Attorney General’s Office is seemingly not concerned about the welfare of said immigrants and is more concerned about spreading hate and fear.

Although Rokita himself may not be racist, there is no doubt that this investigation is rooted in xenophobia. In Rokita’s press release, he directly referenced false allegations that Logansport schools were struggling due to the influx of Haitian immigrants.

“The influx of these illegal aliens, which are coming from over 150 different countries, have strained our schools, and the children of taxpayers are suffering as a result,” Rokita said.

A poll conducted by Magpie in late October resulted in 79% of respondents stating that there has been no negative impact on education in Logansport due to immigrants.

This is not the first time nor will it likely be the last that Rokita has attacked and spread lies about schools in Indiana. He was responsible for the controversial Eyes on Education portal, which was little more than an attempt to intimidate public teachers into falling in line with Rokita’s conservative agenda against a “woke” school system for his own political gain. 

Then, there is the now Lieutenant Governor-elect, and the pastor of hate himself, Micah Beckwith. Beckwith has repeatedly spread blatant lies about Logansport, and only served to exaggerate an already toxic issue. In a post on X,  Beckwith claimed that Logansport’s population had grown to 50-70 thousand. This is utterly false beyond any doubt.

Both Beckwith and Rokita have spread xenophobia and fear for their own political gain while damaging Logansport’s community and putting many at risk. It should be made clear that most Haitians in Logansport are legally here through federal programs, such as the CHNV program or the Temporary Protected Status program.

Instead of continuing to attack immigrants who have moved here for better lives and opportunities, perhaps Rokita should look into genuine concerns of these immigrants being exploited, but this is unlikely because it simply doesn’t fit into the Republican narrative of vilifying “illegal” immigrants “stealing” hard-working American jobs.

Immigrants have built much of America, and Logansport is no different. Irish Immigrants largely built the Wabash and Erie Canal. Logansport in large part has relied on influxes of different immigrant populations, Irish, Italians, Germans, Hispanics and now Haitians. Ask yourself, where would Logansport be now without immigrant populations?