Rep. Clay Higgins from Louisiana has sparked controversy after referring to Haiti as the “nastiest country in the western hemisphere” in a recent social media post. His comments included a call for Haitian migrants, the majority of whom are legally residing in the U.S., to “get their ass out of our country.” The post, which was deleted within hours, responded to an Associated Press report about a Haitian nonprofit group that had filed criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance due to their unfounded claims about migrants in Springfield, Ohio.
Higgins amplified a baseless claim that Haitian migrants were “eating the dogs” and “eating the cats,” which had already been debunked and led to multiple bomb threats in the city. In his post, Higgins mocked Haitians and suggested a stereotype of being sophisticated for filing charges against Trump and Vance, the Republican nominees for the upcoming election. He concluded by implying that migrants should leave the country before the inauguration of the nominees.
Subodh Chandra, the attorney for the Haitian Bridge Alliance, criticized Higgins’ remarks as a clear threat and suggested they reflect a broader issue of intolerance within the current political climate. He expressed disappointment that a responsible investigation by the Ethics Committee was unlikely due to the current House majority’s stance on issues of racism and antisemitism.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Higgins, stating that he is a friend and his post was regretted and subsequently removed. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the comments as “vile and racist,” calling for accountability, while Rep. Steve Horsford initiated a censure motion against Higgins.
Horsford emphasized that such rhetoric contributes to a climate of fear and harassment in communities, arguing for an end to hate speech in the House of Representatives. Although the censure motion was declared out of order, Horsford later shared that Higgins had initially refused to remove the offensive post, suggesting a lack of understanding regarding the impact of his words.
The majority of Haitians in Springfield hold temporary protected status, granted by the Department of Homeland Security, and both Trump and Vance have pledged to revoke that status if elected. Higgins has been known for his fiery rhetoric in the past, including remarks that called for violent measures against suspected terrorists and physical confrontations with activists.