False Claims Allege 5,000 Haitian Immigrants Coming To Montco Town

UPPER MERION, PA — False rumors are circulating through the local community about Upper Merion accepting an influx of 5,000 immigrants from Haiti, the township announced this week.

It's not clear where the rumors originated, but apparently they have gained enough traction to spur the township's Board of Supervisors into issuing an official statement.

The township says the rumors indicate that the immigrants will "placed" in Upper Merion.

"We would like to clarify that this information is unfounded," the Board said Wednesday. "No such request has been made to the Township, nor has any entity sought to relocate any group of individuals to our community. We are working on identifying the source of this misinformation, and anticipate releasing a more formal statement at a later time."

Misinformation and online conspiracy theories about immigrants have spread like wildfire in the lead up to the 2024 election. While states like Texas and Florida, which have anti-immigration stances, have in the past bused refugees out of their states up north to "sanctuary cities," local officials said there was no plan in place in Upper Merion.

Immigrants from Haiti have been targeted specifically by former President Trump, particularly in battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. Claims about immigrants from Haiti eating pets and park animals and otherwise menacing peaceful "American" neighborhoods have been repeatedly debunked by local police in Springfield, Ohio, and elsewhere.