Mobilizing for Haitian Immigrants in Ohio

A dark skin Black man washed in blue light, looking directly at the camera in front of a blue and red background, mirroring the Haitian flag. The words, “L’union fait la force” are superimposed on the image. — Image Credit: A F For Unsplash+

Ohio is home to about 30,000 Haitian residents, with an estimated 15,000 living in the city of Springfield, OH, making it one of the largest concentrations in the state.

The roots of this migration lie in Haiti’s crises: the devastating 2010 earthquake, subsequent hurricanes, political instability marked by gang violence and fragile governments, and a lack of economic opportunities. These conditions pushed many Haitians to seek a future in the United States.

Haitians settled in Ohio in recent years, drawn by job opportunities in construction and manufacturing, and by a lower cost of living compared to other parts of the country. Springfield in particular became a key destination thanks to existing community networks.

This migration revitalized the local economy and added cultural diversity, but it also strained public services and made the community a target of anti-immigrant rhetoric, including Donald Trump’s false claim during a 2024 presidential debate that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs. That racist rumor thrust Springfield into the national spotlight, attracting White supremacist marches and fueling hostility against the Haitian population.

In 2026, Ohio has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement.

TPS Uncertainty

Of the over one million Haitian immigrants in the United States, approximately 330,000 hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a designation established for Haiti in 2010. The others are US citizens of Haitian origin, lawful permanent residents, and others with varied immigration statuses.

The potential expiration of TPS for the tens of thousands of Haitians in Ohio has generated widespread concern. The Trump administration was set to end the program by early February 2026, but at the last minute a federal judge temporarily barred the termination. The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security are now appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court.

But driver’s licenses for TPS-holding Haitians did expire, as did many work permits, as both were connected to the original TPS expiration date. Going in-person to attempt to renew these documents is both complicated and, at a time when ICE is seizing people with impunity elsewhere in the country, potentially unsafe.

In Springfield and in the nearby capital city, Columbus, immigrant families fear what an increase in operations by ICE in their communities might mean.

“They Do Not Want to Cooperate with ICE”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has not openly opposed ICE’s authority but has sought to manage its impact on Ohio communities. In late January, he confirmed that his administration was coordinating with local school districts and law enforcement to establish protocols in case of federal interventions, emphasizing that the Department of Homeland Security had promised Ohio officials 24 hours’ notice before any ICE surge.

At the city level, the situation is different.

“The Columbus mayor and city council have made it very clear they do not want to cooperate with ICE. The police have publicly taken the position that they will not patrol or provide backup, because they know it makes the community less safe if ICE is here terrorizing people, as in Minnesota and other places,” Emily Brown, director of the Immigration Clinic at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, said to NPQ in an interview.

Brown added, “Given Columbus’s pro‑immigrant stance and the position of its leadership, residents do not want local police to collaborate with ICE. However, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office still coordinates with ICE when individuals are released from jail under detainers.”

Immigration enforcement in this context not only undermines community trust, but also raises serious questions about civil rights.

In February 2026, the Columbus City Council passed ordinances prohibiting detention centers within city limits, banning municipal employees from working for ICE or US Customs and Border Patrol as secondary employment, and restricting enforcement actions on public property without a court order.

These measures were accompanied by mass demonstrations downtown, where community leaders and residents denounced federal immigration policy and expressed solidarity with the Haitian community.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio expressed “extreme caution and concern” over the announcement of a 30‑day ICE operation in Springfield targeting Haitian residents as TPS was set to expire, warning that such actions were “dangerous and deeply destabilizing” for families who have built their lives in Ohio.

The organization emphasized that immigration enforcement in this context not only undermines community trust but also raises serious questions about civil rights and the legality of ICE’s practices in the state.

Futures in Limbo

Migrant advocacy groups in Ohio have been actively launching awareness campaigns to support immigrant communities facing ICE operations. Groups like the Ohio Immigrant Alliance have organized initiatives since 2025 such as “Ohio Is Home,” which provides resources, hotlines, and workshops to help immigrants understand how to respond if approached by ICE or local law enforcement.

These campaigns emphasize dignity, community solidarity, and legal protection, while also encouraging residents to report abuses and share their stories to build public awareness. Other coalitions, such as the Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health Coalition of Ohio, have focused on culturally responsive support, highlighting the psychological toll of enforcement actions and promoting accessible counseling services for refugees and immigrants.

“Haitians have been fired from jobs, they are unable to drive because of Ohio driving laws, and families are trying to figure out what to do next.”

In conversation with NPQ, Lynn Tramonte, director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, explained that in this moment the priority is securing donations for humanitarian aid, with local leaders in Springfield and Lima, OH, helping guide residents on how to contribute.

But there is also a struggle within Congress.

A bill to extend TPS for Haiti is moving forward through a discharge petition, a mechanism advocates are using to force a vote, with particular focus on persuading Republicans.

As Tramonte said, “Advocates are now focusing on Republicans like Mike Turner in Ohio, reminding members of Congress that their role is to serve their communities, not partisan agendas. Signing the discharge petition is a way for Ohio’s House delegates to stand up and ensure Haitians are allowed to stay.”

“Since the government has said they want to end TPS,” Tramonte added. “Haitians have been fired from jobs, they are unable to drive because of Ohio driving laws, and families are trying to figure out what to do next. Their future is in limbo.”

In an article published in the Ohio Capital Journal, Viles Dorsainvil, director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, stressed that Haitian families have “built a life here” and should not be abandoned. He warned that ending TPS will destabilize thousands of households, harm local economies, and expose people to unsafe conditions if they are forced to return to Haiti.

Marjory Wentworth, spokesperson for the Springfield G92 Leadership Team—a faith‑based immigrant justice movement in Springfield that mobilizes churches and community leaders to support Haitian families—echoed the importance of humanitarian aid as the priority.

“We are working to provide humanitarian support and Know Your Rights training,” Wentworth, who was also recently appointed to the board of the Haitian Support Center, told NPQ.

She added that beyond these efforts, St. Vincent de Paul—the Catholic Church’s social justice arm—remains active in assisting with bills, food, and legal paperwork.

Ending TPS will destabilize thousands of households, harm local economies, and expose people to unsafe conditions.

Climate of Fear

Uncertainty surrounding TPS reached a critical point in early February 2026, when US District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the administration’s attempt to terminate protections for Haitians. The ruling temporarily prevented mass deportations, ensuring that Haitian families in Springfield, Columbus, and across the state would not suddenly lose their legal status.

While the decision provided immediate relief, it also underscored the fragility of TPS and the precarious situation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants whose futures depend on ongoing legal battles and shifting political agendas.

“If TPS for Haiti is ended by the courts, we would likely see a surge of agents in places like Springfield and Columbus targeting Haitian communities,” Brown said.

The Haitian community in Springfield is facing the dual pressure of ICE operations combined with racist attacks and harassment that escalated in 2026. In February the community was shaken by a series of hoax bomb threats that targeted schools and public spaces. The false alarms forced evacuations, disrupted classes, and left families fearful, with many children staying home from school in the days that followed.

Community leaders denounced the threats as racially motivated harassment, noting that they compounded the stress already caused by ICE operations and anti‑immigrant rhetoric.

“Those incidents were clearly perpetrated by White supremacists who want Haitians out,” Wentworth noted. “They only increase the climate of fear—fear of ICE, and fear of these right‑wing racist groups.”