Gov. Mike DeWine said he hasn't talked to Sen. JD Vance about Springfield migrant issues

(This story was updated to add new information.)

SPRINGFIELD – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday he has not spoken to Ohio Sen. JD Vance or former president Donald Trump about the migrant situation in Springfield, while the mayor asked for national leaders to "speak truth."

The city has been the subject of increased tension and security since Trump claimed without evidence during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating pets and geese. Vance, who is running with Trump, has repeated the claims saying his office is getting calls from the public.

On Monday, DeWine announced that the Ohio State Highway Patrol will conduct daily bomb sweeps at Springfield schools in response to a flood of bogus threats. The governor said all 33 bomb threats received so far have been hoaxes and originated from foreign countries.

DeWine said Tuesday that there had been one threat to three different buildings in the last 24 hours and the threat was unfounded. The governor said the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrested a student at Tecumseh High School, in nearby New Carlisle, for making a threat online.

An estimated 15,000 Haitians have settled in Springfield over the past several years, a dramatic population increase for a community with nearly 59,000 people as of the 2020 census.

The result, local and state officials say: A housing crisis, overtaxed health care system and concerns about driver safety that only increased after a Haitian immigrant caused a school bus crash that killed an 11-year-old on board. DeWine said last week that the state will commit at least $2.5 million to expand primary care access and send state troopers to Clark County to help local police monitor the roads.

Springfield mayor: 'We need help, not hate'

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue praised DeWine's actions to help the city, but was critical of "those on the national stage" without naming Vance or Trump.

“We did not have these threats seven days ago," Rue said. “We would like those on the national stage that can bring peace, that can tamper their words and speak truth. That’s what Springfield is asking. We need peace. We need help, not hate."

Asked about rumors that Trump is planning a visit to Springfield, DeWine said Tuesday that the former president and current GOP nominee would be welcome, but resources in Springfield are strained.

Rue said it would be "very, very difficult" on the city if either presidential candidate visited due to limited resources.

"So it would be fine with me if they decided not to make that stop right now," Rue said.

Springfield City School District Superintendent Robert Hill said that attendance has been down in the district and there were 200 students absent from an elementary school with an enrollment of 500 students on Tuesday.

DeWine said teachers in Springfield told him their students had a "rough day" yesterday.

"That's not what we want to see. Our goal is to get back to normal and do that just as quickly as we can," he said.

Erin Glynn and Laura Bischoff are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gov. Mike DeWine says he hasn't talked to JD Vance about Springfield