COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has directed his office to explore legal options to limit the federal government from sending large numbers of migrants to Ohio, citing concerns over the strain on local resources in communities such as Springfield.
The directive comes after officials in Springfield, located in Clark County, raised alarms about the impact of a surging migrant population on the city’s economy, healthcare system, and schools. According to Yost, the city has seen its population swell by more than a third due to the influx.
“This is absurd – Springfield has swollen by more than a third due to migrants,” Yost said in a statement. “How many people can they be expected to take? What are the limits to the federal government’s power?”
Yost expressed concerns over the federal government’s handling of migrant relocations under the current administration, calling for a judicial review. “We’re going to find a way to get this disaster in front of a federal judge,” he said.
Local residents have reported additional challenges, including property theft, car accidents, squatting, and the killing of wildlife for food. Yost emphasized that the issue lies not with the migrants themselves but with the lack of planning and communication from federal authorities.
Yost’s office is now reviewing possible legal avenues to address the situation. “Overwhelming our small towns with massive migrant populations without any coordination or assistance from the federal government is changing that in front of our eyes,” he added.