Sylacauga council member fears ‘civil unrest’ over Haitian migrants: ‘When is enough enough?’

A Sylacauga City Council member told Fox News that people in their city want answers about the reasons for Haitian immigration to the region.

Sylacauga City Councilwoman Laura Barlow Heath said in a video interview that city officials could not provide their constituents with answers from federal authorities.

“There is a fear here of becoming the next Springfield, Ohio, you know,” she said.

“When is enough enough? When will they stop coming in? How many will there be? There are no answers to that. We don't have any. The unknown and the uncertainty is scary. We have 12,236 people in our community and we just don't have the resources to handle an influx of migrants. That will take away resources that are already scarce here.”

Heath has been a member of the council since 2020.

The council adjourned a meeting earlier this month after just 20 minutes after several residents raised questions about recent Haitian immigration to the area.

Several residents said they wanted to know how the city knew that the incoming workers were legal immigrants, who determined this and what impact this had on crime and housing.

At a later meeting, the Council answered further questions.

See also: Haitian immigrants fleeing unrest and exploitation find 'Alabama is the best place to live'

In Sylacauga, as in Athens and Albertville, social media has been filled with controversy over Haitian immigration, which some residents blame for crime, housing shortages and overcrowded schools.

Heath said she felt sorry for the Haitian immigrants, saying some of them were being trafficked for labor.

“They are in a foreign country… It's almost like a case of human trafficking… Even though they are not working, they are being hired at a lower wage. This is just not right. Nobody wins at all in this situation,” she said.

However, she says city officials have not been told by federal authorities how many Haitians have come to the area.

Officials in several Alabama counties where Haitian immigration has been reported say that contrary to rumors, they have not seen an increase in crime and that enrollment is consistent with existing trends. Haitian immigration began to rise earlier this year after unrest erupted on the Caribbean island due to gang activity.

The federal parole program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) allows immigrants from Haiti and three other countries to enter the United States without immigration documents if they have a sponsor, meet certain guidelines, and undergo background checks.

The program was reinstated last month following a fraud investigation and the introduction of additional security measures. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville criticized the program this month.

“The main thing is, I want to know why Sylacauga. Why here? We already have a housing crisis. There aren't many job openings. So many uncertainties,” Heath said.

She also fears that a lack of information could lead to “civil unrest.”

“I think people are very protective of their property,” she said. “And if they're not working, they're afraid that if people are hungry, not working or in need, they're going to start destroying property and breaking in. Because again … their culture is very broken right now, especially when it comes to laws and rules.”