Local officials in northeast Pennsylvania have been forced to rebut an anti-immigrant claim spread by antisemitic Gab CEO Andrew Torba, who claimed that there were “busses full of migrants being dropped off” in the town of Tunkhannock. Authorities say they have been “inundated with calls” in response to the anti-immigrant claim, which spread via social media in a situation similar to what is currently encompassing the town of Springfield, Ohio, where baseless anti-immigrant smears spread by neo-Nazis and social media users have led to repeated bomb threats.

Gab is a far-right social media platform that has been a haven for white nationalists, including the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. Torba, Gab’s CEO, has pushed white nationalism, Christian nationalism, and antisemitism — including complaining that “pagans, Jews, non-believers, atheists” have too much political power and arguing that Christians are “done being controlled and being told what we’re allowed to do in our own country by a 2% minority.” He also cheered on the January 6 insurrection as it was happening, has called democracy a “failed concept” and a “failed ideology,” promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory, and led an effort to sabotage vaccination efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, Torba has bragged that Gab helped make the racist “great replacement” conspiracy theory “part of the daily mainstream discourse.”

On September 16, Torba posted on both Gab and X (formerly Twitter) that “I’m getting reports from locals that they have spotted busses full of migrants being dropped off in Tunkhannock, PA. I can personally confirm that I’ve seen parking lots full of them at the local park near Tunkhannock.” His post included an image that supposedly supported his claim.

Torba’s post reportedly spread across social media, and local law enforcement officials told ABC affiliate WNEP that they are “being inundated with calls about the post.” WNEP dedicated a segment about the anti-migrant claim, specifically highlighting Torba’s post and speaking with the district attorney of Wyoming County, where Tunkhannock is located, who said, “If it was all true and if they were here, they have disappeared. And even if they were here, there’s no indication of anything illegal.” The district attorney had reportedly “even consulted with Homeland Security personnel who work out of his office” about the claim.

Tunkhannock’s police department also addressed Torba’s claim, posting on Facebook a statement that “our Department has been inundated with calls and messages pertaining to” the Gab CEO’s post. The statement, from Police Chief Keith Carpenter, says that the photo simply shows “a group that can be described only as people. People who are respectfully walking along the sidewalk in our town and we see no crime being committed other than the picture being taken from an electronic device while operated upon a roadway.”

“We refuse to infringe without cause upon the freedoms we all expect,” Carpenter added. “My officers will no longer entertain the questions, comments, phone calls and messages of this political pot stir and will continue to focus on the kind of service to the public that is expected of us.”

In response to the rebuttal from local officials, Torba doubled down and mocked WNEP for the segment, accusing the station and officials of telling people to “not believe our lying eyes.”

Torba’s targeting of supposed migrants in Tunkhannock comes as Springfield, Ohio, has been inundated with bomb threats over false claims that members of its Haitian immigrant community were “stealing and eating local pets.” Like the situation in Tunkhannock, that claim was also spread by the far right, reportedly originating with a neo-Nazi group, and took off on social media. It was then invoked by former President Donald Trump during the September 10 presidential debate and by his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH).

Clarification (9/18/24): The language in this piece has been updated for clarity.