In the western Wisconsin city of Eau Claire, the arrival of refugees has stirred up a wave of hostility, fear, and anger, contrasting with the community's history of welcoming newly arriving immigrants. Last fall, when residents learned that several dozen refugees would be resettling in the city, opponents spread misinformation and packed city meetings to protest the resettlements.

Stephanie Hirsch, the Eau Claire city manager and a former resident who remembers the community's embrace of Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia, expressed surprise at the fear and hostility displayed towards the new refugees. Hirsch firmly disagrees with the notion of being afraid of people from different cultures and instead sees it as an opportunity for exciting cultural exchange.

However, some Eau Claire residents, like Fred Kappus, feel that the city should prioritize addressing the homelessness situation before welcoming more individuals from elsewhere. Kappus, who serves as the vice chairman of the Eau Claire Republican Party, represents a faction that questions the decision to resettle refugees in the midst of existing local challenges.

The divisive issue of refugee resettlement has been mirrored in other midsize communities across the United States. It serves as the backdrop for a campaign rally scheduled for Tuesday, featuring Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. Vance, who has been vocal about immigration and anti-immigrant rhetoric throughout his campaign, argues that illegal immigration has had negative consequences for the country, even in states like Wisconsin that are far from the border with Mexico. He places blame on Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, promising to secure the border and prioritize the needs of American citizens.

Vance's campaign has also been criticized for promoting false claims about Haitian refugees in Springfield, Ohio. The allegations of pet abduction and consumption have been debunked, with officials stating that there are no credible reports to support such claims. However, the controversy surrounding these allegations has helped draw attention to the immigration policies of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Vance's visit on Tuesday aims to highlight the impact of immigration on non-border states, a topic that has polarized opinions in Eau Claire and its surrounding areas. When news first broke of the impending arrival of approximately 75 refugees fleeing persecution or war, Republicans at the state and federal level introduced bills to grant local communities more say in the matter. A misleading billboard accusing Eau Claire city leaders of "trafficking Somali refugees" further intensified the tension, although no Somalis were part of the resettlement effort. Despite strong opposition at an Eau Claire County Board meeting, where many voiced their concerns, a resolution to halt the resettlement was ultimately rejected.

Critics, such as Fred Kappus, argue that there was a lack of transparency from the city regarding the resettlement plans and the origin of the refugees. Moving forward, the community of Eau Claire must navigate these contrasting perspectives as it grapples with the challenge of integrating the newly arrived refugees while addressing its existing social and economic issues.