Haitian community leaders and immigrant advocates in Springfield say they fear families will be left in limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 25 that the Trump administration can move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians living in the United States.
The humanitarian program allows people from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to temporarily live and work legally in the United States.
The Supreme Court ruling comes after months of uncertainty for Haitian TPS holders, whose legal protections had remained in place while lower court challenges moved through the federal court system. The court’s decision clears the way for the administration to end those protections as litigation continues.
More than 350,000 Haitians could be affected.
Springfield, Ohio Haitians concerned by ruling
For Springfield, home to one of Ohio’s largest Haitian communities, the decision immediately sparked concern among organizations that have spent months supporting immigrants who have found themselves at the center of the national immigration debate.
“It was predictable that the Supreme Court could have taken such a decision, which is not good for our community,” said Viles Dorsainvil, a Haitian immigrant and executive director the Haitian Support Center. “We were expecting the Supreme Court to uphold justice and human dignity, but it’s the opposite.”
Dorsainvil said many Haitian families have built lives in the United States and may no longer have relatives or support systems waiting for them in Haiti.
“The worst thing is we have so many Haitian families who have been here for so long they might not have any person in Haiti if something happens to them,” Dorsainvil said. “It’s a very sad situation for the Haitian community here.”
Dorsainvil said the ruling could also have economic consequences in Springfield if large numbers of Haitians lose their legal status and jobs.
“So many people will lose their jobs and that will create some type of crisis in our community,” Dorsainvil said. “As our community we have always stood together and we will continue to through this.”
Ruling marks ‘the end of our legal options,’ community says
Michael McClelland, a spokesperson for G92, a Springfield faith-based organization that works to protect the rights and dignity of immigrant neighbors, said staff members watched the Supreme Court’s decision together the morning of June 25, hoping the justices would at least delay implementation.
“We were all hoping it would be at least postponed or a partial victory,” McClelland said. “This is a loss for America’s democracy.”
He said the organization has exhausted its legal options and will now shift its focus to supporting Springfield’s Haitian community.
“This is exactly what the Trump administration has been hoping for,” McClelland said. “Not much we can do now. We will continue to provide for the Haitian community as we can, but this is the end of our legal options.”
Michael said many Haitian residents are now fearful of what could happen next.
“I think it’s all possible. At this moment ICE can start knocking on doors and taking people away,” McClelland said. “I’m sure the Haitian community are terrified.”
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Haitian immigrants in Ohio face ‘very sad situation’ as SCOTUS lets Trump end TPS
Reporting by Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
