LOGANSPORT, Ind. — Several Logansport residents voiced their concerns about the city’s response to the impact of legal immigration during a meeting of the Logansport City Council on Monday evening.
This comes after a recent exclusive report from FOX59/CBS4 surrounding the city’s immigration growth. Some government officials with the city of Logansport told FOX59 Anchor Angela Ganote that they believe the immigrant population growth is “unsustainable.”
Community members previously told FOX59/CBS4 that anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 immigrants have moved to the area in the last few years, working for area employers. However, no official source has confirmed that population figure. According to 2020 census data, the city’s population is around 18,000.
During Monday’s meeting, former Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell spoke during public comment, calling on Mayor Chris Martin to resign. Kitchell also said he plans to start a petition in support of this.
“If you’re really unselfish, and you really do what’s best for your community, you do what Joe Biden did and you step aside,” Kitchell said.
Logansport residents also voiced their various concerns about how the city’s services are being impacted, with one stating that the “rents are high” and the “social systems,” along with the schools and the police department, are overwhelmed.
During the meeting, Martin said that he would not be stepping down. But Martin said that the city would take steps over the next week, including. hire more translators, work to address health concerns and crack down on the number of people living in homes.
Martin said that a weekly news release with updates on the situation will be posted on the city’s social media starting Friday. Martin also said during the meeting that the city of Logansport has reached out to the Governor’s Office and to the city’s employers for help.
Martin, as well as members of the city council, encouraged residents to email them or have one-on-one conversations about this topic so more productive solutions can occur.
