Logansport highlighted on International Migrant Day

Since the 1800s Logansport has been known for its immigrant population, but a recent influx in Haitian migrants the past several years has some citizens concerned about the impact it may have on their local economy. While government officials in Indiana claim that Logansport isn’t in crisis from the migration, many community members are still voicing their concerns.

It's been 24 years since the United Nations General Assembly vowed to take into account the large, increasing number of migrants around the world, proclaiming Dec. 18 as International Migrants Day. 

International Migrants Day highlights the increasingly complex environment that's created by migration. Foreign conflict, climate-related disasters, and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety and opportunity, with the United States being a main target for families seeking a better life.

For the past several years, Logansport has seen record levels of internal displacement, with thousands of Haitian nationals holding Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and finding homes in the small north central Indiana community. While government officials in Indiana claim that Logansport isn’t in crisis from the migration, many community members are still voicing concerns on the matter. Logansport locals voiced their concerns, including Logansport native Dave Price, who raised national attention with media outlets like Fox News, claiming the town now needs government help due to the mass influx of migrants the community has recently added. 

A town that was known for being built by foreigners, it was Irish immigrants building the Wabash and Eerie Canal that put Logansport on the map in the 1800s. From 1900 to 1950, Logansport saw a large influx of Italian immigrants, resulting in a population peak around 1950. People from at least 28 countries now call Logansport home, with at least 27 languages reported to be spoken within the community. 

Chris Martin previously reported that initially he was left in the dark about exactly how many new migrants had joined the city in the last few years, but some reports claim the number ranged between 2,000 to 3,000 Haitian migrants. Many community members have also blamed Tyson Food for the recent immigrant increase. Tyson Food was also the cause for the increased Hispanic population in the Logansport community when the plant opened in the 1990s. 

Photo provided by www.cityoflogansport.org. 

The Logansport mayor did confirm he himself had thought about declaring the migrant influx to the city as a state of emergency and that although crime had not increased, there had been a 20-30% increase in traffic, school and hospital populations. City officials believe most of the new migrants in the city are legally placed via two federal programs that help people from countries in turmoil, allowing them to legally work in the U.S. 

Dave Price said he himself has Italian ancestry, with his family immigrating to the community from Italy many years ago, and stated while he's not against immigration he is concerned with the city's sudden growth in their Haitian population. Price stated that a vast number of immigrants have recently been thrown into the community at such a rapid rate that he's concerned about the effects to their local economy and threaten the safety of its citizens. Price said he worried that many of the new migrants joining the town had not been acclimated to the American morals and way of life. Price blamed the Biden-Harris administration for the recent migrant increase that he said is becoming unsustainable. 

“We're seeing this new influx of population. Logansport is used to immigrants, but in the past immigrants that have came to the community and have acclimated very well over the recent decades. The recent migrants coming to Logansport, however, are coming in droves from a third world country without any idea about the local laws, rules, or how to behave here,” Price said. 

Price, who was born and raised in the community, said he chooses to remain positive about the recent concerns, and hopes for more laws on immigration by local, state and federal officials in the future that will bring a safer and more sustainable regulations. He got the attention of several politicians and lawmakers including Third District GOP Congressman Jim Banks, who cited Logansport in October, when he proposed a bill that would crack down on immigration. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Cass County gained 288 international migrants between April 2020 and July 2023, ranking the area as the 17th highest out of Indiana's 92 counties. 

Photo above taken by WROI GIANT fm reporter Shelby Lopez, showing the Monument to Immigrants of Logansport and Cass County, which was placed on Market Street in downtown Logansport in 2020 to honor the city's immigrant history and their impact on the community.