One of the most talked about moments of the presidential debate this week was when former President Donald Trump referenced a dubious albeit widely-shared story about Haitian migrants in an Ohio town allegedly eating people's pets. But the real story of Springfield, Ohio's refugee crisis is not about cats and dogs. It is the story of a town still reeling from years of NAFTA-induced abandonment once again being forced to clean up a mess perpetuated by the federal government.

In 1983, this very publication named Springfield as one of America's "Dream Cities." It was a picture perfect example of Americana, with a thriving middle class and an enduring manufacturing base. But in the years since, Springfield has become one of many of America's great towns to fall victim to deindustrialization and the decline of the middle class. Today, Springfield has a 22 percent poverty rate and a median income of just over $27,000 a year.

It is impossible for a fair observer to view Springfield residents' resistance to the influx of Haitian refugees without understanding that context. This is a town full of people who are trying to survive, already reeling from devastating policies caused by the federal government. For........

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