Haitian American congresswoman warns Trump's anti-immigrant claims could spark violence

 Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick on Saturday condemned former President Donald Trump’s false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and warned that his rhetoric could spark violence against immigrants. 

“My first reaction was just pure disgust and disdain,” the Florida congresswoman and House Haiti Caucus co-chair said Saturday on CNN’s “First of All with Victor Blackwell.” “For him to say that they’re actually committing crimes and stealing pets is a big lie.” 

It’s really rooted in racist stereotypes that we’ve heard decades before, and he’s reviving that kind of negative rhetoric,” she added.

Cherfilus-McCormick is the only Haitian American currently serving in Congress and says she’s “absolutely” concerned that immigrants will get hurt if Trump continues with this inflammatory message.

“We’re feeling the combativeness, we’re feeling the death threats,” the lawmaker said, adding that she’s “hearing that from people all across the country.”

Remember: Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, continue to promote false claims that Haitian immigrants are killing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

The rumor appears to have started on a local Facebook group for the community, which has seen an influx of as many as 20,000 Haitian immigrants under the Immigration Parole Program, and has been amplified by right-wing voices as part of their broader anti-immigrant messaging.

At a rally Friday, Trump ramped up his rhetoric about immigrants, also doubling down on false claims that Venezuelan gangs were “taking over” Aurora, Colorado.