Haitians in Springfield will be unable to work and could face deportation after the U.S. Supreme Court gave the Trump administration the green light to end their legal protections.
The Supreme Court ruled June 25 that the administration can move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians. 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 came 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.
“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 of the Haitian Support Center. “We were expecting the Supreme Court to uphold justice and human dignity, but it’s the opposite.”
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue acknowledged the uncertainty the ruling creates for many local families in a statement released June 25.
“Many of the individuals affected by this decision are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, taxpayers and parents,” Rue said in the statement. “They contribute to our local economy, support our schools, strengthen our neighborhoods and have become part of the fabric of Springfield.”
While the city will follow federal law, Rue said Springfield’s priority remains “the safety and well-being of all residents.”
“Court decisions may shape policy, but the strength of a community is shaped by the people who show up every day to build it,” Rue said. “Springfield will not lose sight of that.”
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 found themselves at the center of the national immigration debate.
In 2024, the city received unwanted national attention after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance amplified false claims that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets.
Dorsainvil said many Haitian families built lives in the United States and may no longer have relatives or support systems waiting for them in Haiti. “It’s a very sad situation for the Haitian community here,” he added.
Advocates have said Haiti remains too dangerous for immigrants to return. The U.S. Department of State advises Americans not to travel there “due to the risk of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest and limited health care.”
“The Supreme Court’s decision means that many, many people are going to die violent, needless deaths,” said Geoff Pipoly, who represented Haitian TPS holders in the case. “That’s the bottom line.”
Dorsainvil said the ruling could also have economic consequences. Haitians with TPS will lose their work authorization and won’t be able to renew their driver’s licenses after they expire July 6, according to Kathleen Kersh, an attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality.
“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.”
What’s next for Haitians in Springfield?
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.
Now, he said the organization has exhausted its legal options and will now shift its focus to supporting Springfield’s Haitian community.
“We were all hoping it would be at least postponed or a partial victory,” McClelland said. “This is a loss for America’s democracy.”
Advocates say Haitian residents are fearful of what could happen next.
Pipoly said some TPS holders may qualify for asylum or another immigration status, but the majority will be left with few options. And the Supreme Court decision increased the risk of mass immigration enforcement in Springfield, Kersh said.
“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: Haitians in Ohio fearful after Supreme Court rules on protected status
Reporting by Amani Bayo and Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Amani Bayo and Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
