Tensions rise amid immigration surge

The town of Charleroi seen from Monessen. — ©️2024 The New York Times Company

AMOS Vougar thought he had found everything he needed in Charleroi, a small town in Pennsylvania.

The people were welcoming, rent was affordable and he quickly advanced at a local food processing plant, allowing him to support his family back in Liberia.

However, three years later, the situation has changed drastically.

A surge of immigrants, particularly those fleeing violence in Haiti, has led to tensions in the town that was previously untouched by large-scale immigration.

Last month, former President Donald Trump inflamed the situation by suggesting that immigrants were responsible for increased crime in Charleroi, asking, “Has your beautiful town changed?”

To Vougar, the influx of complaints and fears from long-time residents have overshadowed the peaceful life he once enjoyed in the quaint borough nestled along the Monongahela River, just an hour south of Pittsburgh.

“Things changed greatly,” he said. “All the immigrants in the Charleroi community right now are living in fear.”

One incident particularly upset Vougar when a cashier assumed he did not know English, highlighting the growing resentment among some locals.

Once a thriving glass manufacturing hub, Charleroi had been in decline for years, so Vougar initially thought the arrival of immigrants would revitalise the town.

Many newcomers have opened businesses along the main avenue, where a store selling Trump apparel sits near another offering Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise.

Immigrants have also filled assembly line jobs at some of the remaining factories, which struggled to find workers.

While many long-term residents welcomed the new energy, not everyone was pleased.

A local musician expressed concerns about rising crime, despite officials stating there was no evidence to support such claims.

Rumours have circulated, including one about a tent city forming in a pharmacy parking lot, but the supposed site was simply parents watching their children.

Vougar acknowledged that the influx of immigrants had changed the town.

Rents have risen, and the local Walmart often runs out of staples due to increased demand.

The last census in 2020 counted about 4,200 residents in Charleroi; officials now estimate around 2,000 immigrants live there, including roughly 700 from Haiti.

Many new arrivals found jobs at Fourth Street Foods, a food packing plant where a diverse group of migrants work together.

Company president Dave Barbe noted that immigrants have filled roles he struggled to fill with local workers, as fewer Americans are willing to take monotonous entry-level positions in the cold factory environment.

“They just don’t grow on trees anymore,” he said, acknowledging that many young people are reluctant to start in such jobs.

Compounding the town’s economic challenges is the looming closure of a local glass plant that produces Pyrex products, which would result in the loss of over 300 jobs.

“It’s been a real gut punch to the community,” said borough manager Joe Manning. “People feel disaffected by changes in their lifestyles and industry, leading them to look for someone to blame.”

Manning believes most Charleroi natives have been welcoming to immigrants but worries that Trump’s rhetoric has emboldened those opposed to immigration.

“Charleroi has been a quiet place, and it is still a quiet place,” said Getro Bernabe, a former Haitian coast guard member who became Charleroi’s first immigrant community liaison last year.

He explained that many immigrants were drawn by reports of job opportunities and a low cost of living.

However, as Charleroi has gained national attention, Bernabe has noticed an increase in anxious immigrants questioning the safety of sending their children to local schools.

Charleroi schools, perched on a hill north of town, seem sheltered from the political turmoil below.

On a recent afternoon, the schoolyard buzzed with energy as children rushed to catch buses, embodying the spirit of childhood unaffected by adult concerns.

However, administrators are grappling with the surge in new students.

English learning programmes have expanded, and classes have been restructured to accommodate the influx.

In the past few years, the percentage of elementary students enrolled in English-learning classes has risen dramatically, particularly among kindergarteners, where the figure now stands at 35%.

“We’re just like, ‘Oh my gosh, what are we going to do?’” said Mark Killinger, principal for kindergarten through second grade.

Space is so limited that one English teacher works with students in a closet at the back of a classroom.

While an increase in population can be beneficial – especially in a time when many rural schools are closing – Killinger acknowledged that some local parents have withdrawn their children from public schools due to concerns over the arrival of immigrant students.

Joeby Charlecin, an 18-year-old high school senior from Haiti, vividly remembers the gang violence that forced his family to flee their homeland.

He felt grateful to have a chance in Charleroi and taught himself English through YouTube and Netflix, often practising his skills with peers. His classmates refer to him as “the mayor” for his willingness to bridge cultural gaps.

Despite being aware of Trump’s comments regarding Charleroi, Charlecin is focused on his future and has worked hard to adapt.

Among those who have welcomed immigrants is Amy Nelson, an assistant principal who took in a six-year-old Haitian girl whose mother died of cancer shortly after their arrival.

Nelson described the girl’s struggle to adjust, including learning to manage her food intake after experiencing food insecurity in her homeland.

Despite the unease in the community, Nelson remains optimistic.

“I wish the parents acted more like the kids,” she said, noting how well the children manage to get along, often seeing beyond the divisions adults create. — ©2024 The New York Times Company