National Policy
Ohio Haitian Migrants Face Job Losses as Temporary Protected Status Expires Following Supreme Court Ruling
With Ohio’s Haitian refugees losing their protected status Monday, Springfield’s large population has begun being terminated from their jobs, a pastor who works with the community said on Tuesday. Without legal status, their work permits become invalid. They also face…
Key points
- An estimated 45,000 Haitian migrants in Ohio are losing legal work status following the termination of Temporary Protected Status.
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal law limits judicial review of TPS termination decisions.
- Ohio leaders remain divided over the move, with state attorneys general emphasizing the statutory limits of temporary relief while Gov. Mike DeWine opposed the removals.
NewsWK — Haitian migrants living in Ohio have begun losing their employment eligibility and jobs following the end of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), according to a report first published by Stateline. The policy change impacts an estimated 45,000 Haitians statewide, including roughly 15,000 residing in Springfield.
End of Protections Follows High Court Decision
The revocation of work permits follows a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June, which determined that the federal statute governing TPS limits court challenges regarding how its provisions are administered. The ruling cleared the path for the Department of Homeland Security to proceed with ending the temporary status for eligible Haitian nationals.
TPS was originally granted to Haitian citizens following a major earthquake in 2010 and was repeatedly renewed under successive administrations due to ongoing economic and security instability in the nation. However, state legal officials, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 27 other state attorneys general, previously urged federal officials to enforce the temporary mandate of the law, arguing that the program was never designed to provide permanent legal residency.
Divided Perspectives Among State Leaders and Community Groups
Ohio elected officials hold differing views on the federal enforcement action. Governor Mike DeWine criticized the decision to end protections, pointing to rampant gang violence and severe economic disruption in Haiti. “As I have stated in the past, the policy to remove these individuals from this country is a mistake,” DeWine stated in response to the ruling.
Local civic and religious organizations in Springfield report that businesses have begun terminating employees whose work authorizations expired. Pastor Carl Ruby, a local minister working with the Haitian community, expressed deep concern over the physical safety of those facing potential return to Haiti, noting during a virtual conference that “they’re just terrified for their physical safety.”
While civil rights groups continue to pursue separate constitutional challenges in federal court, federal law enforcement agencies retain authority to conduct immigration enforcement operations in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Based on reporting by Marty Schladen originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
