Illustration by Rey Velasquez Sagcal

Politics

The Killing of an American Town

There’s no greater distillation of the Trump project than Springfield, Ohio.

By

Enter your email to receive alerts for this author.

Sign in or create an account to better manage your email preferences.

Unsubscribe from email alerts

Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from email alerts for Alexander Sammon ?

Oct 26, 2026 5:45 AM

Part 1

The windows of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio, were papered over from the inside, the blinds were drawn, the door locked, and the doorbell camera running. A volunteer guard stood watch from within, peering out into the parking lot, scanning for activity, opening the door just one body’s width to let people slide in, or out, as needed.

There were fewer people entering or leaving than there ever had been before. A lot fewer—at the HSC, at the St. Vincent de Paul on Raffensperger Avenue, everywhere. Some were trying not to be seen.…