Logansport, Indiana, is facing severe challenges as the local school system buckles under the pressure of a 30% population increase, largely due to the influx of Haitian migrants. The arrival of over 11,000 migrants since 2020 has created overcrowded classrooms and strained resources, leaving many residents blaming the Biden-Harris administration for what they see as a failure to manage immigration.
Local resident Candice Espinoza expressed her frustration to The New York Post, saying, “Our community cannot withstand this many people being here.” Espinoza and other residents are calling on the administration to take action before the situation worsens. Another resident, Nancy Baker, voiced her anger, saying if Vice President Kamala Harris came to her home, she would tell her, “Get off my property.”
The impact on schools has been especially significant. The Haitian student population in Logansport’s schools has increased from 14 to 207 in just one year. Baker’s daughter, Cheyanne, dropped out of high school because she felt left behind, as teachers focused their attention on students who did not speak English. “You can’t just focus all your resources on one group of children while everyone else is falling behind,” Baker said.
Cheyanne has since enrolled in an online school, but the disruption has left a negative impact. Espinoza, whose children are also struggling with the school overcrowding, said, “Their reading and comprehension will suffer because teachers are lowering expectations to accommodate non-English-speaking students.”
Logansport Mayor Chris Martin acknowledged the difficulties but attributed some of the challenges to cultural differences. However, residents like Espinoza believe the issue lies in the lack of resources. She plans to vote for Donald Trump in the next election, saying, “When Trump becomes president, our state will improve.”