Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is facing sharp criticism from within his own party over his defense of Haitian migrants in Springfield, as conservative activist and founder of the Ohio-based We the People Convention Tom Zawistowski accused him of siding with immigrants over Ohio citizens and backing what he called a failed immigration policy.
On Tuesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Zawistowski criticized DeWine as the “leading RINO in the country” and accused him of governing contrary to Republican principles.
Zawistowski described DeWine as the ultimate “career politician,” noting, “He has been everything but president,” listing his tenure as “a Ohio House member, an Ohio Senate member… a U.S. congressman… a U.S. senator… the governor.”
He added, “You talk about career politician, his picture’s in the dictionary when you say career politician,” arguing that “the whole time he’s run as a Republican, but he’s governed as a Democrat.”
Turning to immigration, Zawistowski focused on the influx of Haitian migrants into Springfield, Ohio. He said that during the Obama administration, officials “started to fly into Springfield, Ohio, tens of thousands of Haitian nationals under a temporary… status,” referring to Temporary Protected Status.
He faulted DeWine, saying the governor “just welcomed them in,” and claimed that residents suddenly found “tens of thousands of foreigners going to your schools, in your emergency rooms, wrecking cars.”
Zawistowski stressed that the migrant surge strained local infrastructure and displaced Ohio workers.
“Instead of fighting to get those jobs for Ohio citizens,” he said, DeWine is “now fighting to keep the Haitians here so they can keep filling those jobs that Ohioans could fill.”
Questioning the governor’s loyalties, he asked, “Who are you representing – us or them?”
After a clip aired of DeWine defending Haitian workers in Springfield and saying the city’s manufacturing rebound was “because of the Haitians who are working there,” Zawistowski reacted bluntly: “We’re depending on those really poorly educated, low-skilled Haitians to save our cities in Ohio? That’s what he’s saying. It’s disgusting.”
He added that he hoped federal immigration authorities would act, saying, “We just can’t wait for President Trump to bring in ICE and tell all the Haitians, pack your bags.”
Zawistowski further suggested ulterior motives behind the policy decisions, claiming, “There’s money changing hands here somehow, some way. That is what’s driving all this, because it’s not common sense and it’s not supporting the people of Ohio.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Gov. Mike DeWine” by Gov. Mike DeWine.
