At least 33 bomb threats have targeted Springfield, Ohio, since false claims, promoted by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, surfaced about Haitian migrants harming pets, according to Gov. Mike DeWine.

All threats, including those aimed at schools and public facilities, have been deemed hoaxes. Schools in the city of about 58,000 residents were evacuated last week due to the threats, with some aimed at elementary campuses. City Hall also received a threat against its facilities.

“Our children deserve to be in school. Parents deserve to feel that their children are being educated and that their children are safe,” DeWine stated at a press conference, after meeting with local officials.

The threats follow online comments made by Sen. Vance, who falsely claimed that Haitian migrants were causing problems in Springfield, including the abduction and consumption of pets. Vance stated, “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”

These false claims were amplified when Trump repeated the disinformation on stage during the ABC News presidential debate, saying, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

Local law enforcement has firmly denied these accusations, with Springfield police stating that there are no credible reports of pets being harmed by immigrants. Mayor Rob Rue labeled the claims “a lie” and urged for the disinformation to stop.

In response to the threats, Ohio authorities have implemented several security measures. Tower cameras have been installed in Springfield, bomb-detecting dogs have been deployed, and state law enforcement officers are assisting local police in monitoring the situation. Gov. DeWine also announced that the Ohio Highway Patrol would conduct daily sweeps of all 17 school district buildings, regardless of whether they’ve been directly threatened.

"The people who are doing this are doing this to sow discord in our community and to disrupt our ability to do our normal functions,” said Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "And we just can't let them do that."

Amid the bomb threats, Springfield officials have canceled the city's annual CultureFest, a two-day celebration of the city’s diversity that was scheduled to start on Sept. 27. The decision was made out of concern for public safety.

The disinformation has particularly impacted the Haitian community in Springfield, which numbers more than 15,000. Haitian migrants in the area have been granted Temporary Protected Status by the U.S. government due to ongoing unrest and gang violence in Haiti.

DeWine defended the Haitian migrants, emphasizing their positive contributions to the community and condemning the harmful rhetoric. "I have an obligation to speak out," DeWine said. "We have no evidence that anyone is eating someone’s pets in Springfield, Ohio."

Despite the turmoil, DeWine stressed the importance of keeping schools open and ensuring the community functions as normally as possible. "Our schools must remain open. They’re going to remain open," he stated.

The disinformation campaign linked to the bomb threats comes at a time when the U.S. is grappling with misinformation and its consequences. While Trump and Vance’s comments have fueled tensions in Springfield, Gov. DeWine reiterated that while immigration policy is a legitimate issue for debate, falsehoods have real-world consequences for local communities.

With some of the threats reportedly originating from overseas, DeWine suggested that external actors are exploiting this disinformation to "mess with the United States" and disrupt the lives of ordinary Americans.

As the investigation continues, local officials are committed to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of all residents, particularly the Haitian migrant community, which has found itself at the center of a dangerous disinformation campaign.