Ted Cruz shares meme on ‘Haitian immigrants eating cats’ but Internet reminds him of 2021 Cancun trip

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Senator Ted Cruz is grabbing headlines once again, but this time it's for something as bizarre as it is controversial.

On Monday, September 9, Cruz shared a meme on X (formerly known as Twitter) that pushed a conspiracy theory about "Haitian immigrants eating house cats." Yes, you read that right.

But as soon as he hit that “post” button, the internet was quick to remind him that he might not be the best person to jump into discussions involving pets given his own history with a certain furry friend.

Internet reminds Tez Cruz of Cancun trip 

Who can forget Tez Cruz's infamous 2021 trip to Cancun? During a devastating snowstorm that left millions of Texans freezing in the dark without electricity, Cruz decided it was the perfect time to escape to sunny Mexico.

But it wasn't just the timing of the vacation that got everyone riled up—it was the fact that Cruz left behind his family dog Snowflake in their house and in the care of a security guard.

So when Cruz decided to weigh in on the recent conspiracy about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating cats, social media users were quick to remind him of his own pet-related blunder.

"You left Snowflake home alone when you went to Cancun," one posted on X.

"This is only adding to your party’s reputation for being weird. Besides, remember when you left Snowflake at home and went to Cancun? You’re no St. Francis," another added.

"You know you’re officially a loser when you’re running for office and you’re posting false information and memes," a third user wrote.

"You are using your position of power to teach people to hate based on lies and deception. America deserves better," someone else insisted.

"You realize white supremacist groups have been using this line for 50 years to attack Vietnamese immigrants and then the Cuban boat people, right? Why are you regurgitating this old racist trope? If it's true, are pets safe around you or should people hide them when you come by?" read a comment.

"Ted Cruz is an immigrant from Canada, but his mom had us citizenship :] his dad was also an immigrant," another chimed in.

Rumors of immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio

The meme that Tez Cruz shared wasn’t just floating in a vacuum; it was part of a larger wave of rumors and fear-mongering that have been spreading online.

These claims started gaining traction in Springfield, Ohio—a town of 58,000 where Donald Trump’s campaign amplified allegations that migrants were eating pets and conducting animal sacrifices.

But local leaders in Springfield were quick to shut these rumors down. In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Springfield said there were "no credible reports" of pets or other animals being harmed or abused by immigrants.

"In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," the statement read.

The story apparently began with a post on a private Facebook page, where a woman claimed that Haitian residents had taken her friend’s cat, hung it from a tree, and were carving it up to eat. However, no evidence has surfaced to support this claim.

On the other hand, there was an incident in Canton, Ohio—about 200 miles away—where a woman named Allexis Telia Ferrell, 27, was arrested in August after allegedly killing a cat and eating it in a residential area. However, Ferrell is an American citizen and not an immigrant.

Political fallout of rumors

Trump’s campaign and other conservative figures used the aforementioned rumors to attack the Biden administration’s border policies, arguing that the influx of immigrants was leading to all kinds of societal problems.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost even got involved, ordering his office to "research legal avenues" to stop new migrant arrivals since they were putting a strain on resources.

"The problem is not migrants, it is way, way too many migrants in a short period of time," Yost said in a press release.

"The problem is a massive increase in the population without any communication or assistance from the federal government."

Yost also claimed that migrants were causing car crashes, stealing livestock, and killing wildlife for food—allegations that the city of Springfield quickly denied.

In fact, the city’s spokesperson told Newsweek, "There have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents' homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.