Representative Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, sparked controversy with a social media post on Wednesday where he described Haiti as the “nastiest country in the western hemisphere.” He suggested that migrants from Haiti, the majority of whom are legally in the United States, should “get their ass out of our country.”
Higgins’s remarks on X, which were removed shortly after they were posted, were in reaction to an Associated Press article concerning a Haitian nonprofit that has filed criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance due to their unfounded statements about migrants in Springfield, Ohio. This includes Trump’s claim during a presidential debate that migrants were “eating the dogs” and “eating the cats,” a narrative that has been debunked but has since led to a wave of bomb threats in the city.
In his post, Higgins echoed the unfounded allegations, writing, “Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… but damned if they don’t feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP,” referring to the GOP nominees Trump and Vance. He concluded with a warning that “all these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th,” the date Trump and Vance would take office if they won the upcoming election.
Subodh Chandra, the lawyer for the Haitian Bridge Alliance, described Higgins’s statement as not just a “dog-whistle” but a blatant threat. He expressed that in a responsible congressional environment, such behavior would warrant a swift investigation by the Ethics Committee. He criticized the current House majority for tolerating antisemitism and racism and questioned whether Republican leadership would take action.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, also a Republican from Louisiana, expressed that Higgins is a close friend and noted that Higgins regretted his post after a moment of reflection and deleted it.
Democratic leaders were quick to condemn Higgins’ comments. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled them as “vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the United States House of Representatives,” asserting that Higgins should be held accountable. Representative Steve Horsford from Nevada initiated a motion to censure Higgins on the House floor, stating that such rhetoric incites hate and fear.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also a Republican, objected to the censure motion, which was ultimately deemed out of order. Horsford later revealed that he had spoken to Higgins, who showed no remorse and refused to retract the statement prior to the motion on the floor.
Most Haitians in Springfield hold legal status under temporary protected status provided by the Department of Homeland Security, despite Trump and Vance’s promises to end this protection and deport them if elected. Vance has previously stated that he would continue to label such individuals as “illegal aliens,” regardless of legal designations.
Higgins, known for his inflammatory rhetoric and staunch support for Trump, has made numerous controversial statements in the past, including calls for violence against suspected terrorists and physical confrontations with activists at public events.