The U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for the Trump administration to end temporary legal protections for immigrants from Haiti and Syria.
An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants live in the Springfield area. Many are here under Temporary Protected Status, which provides a legal way to enter the U.S. for vetted people from certain countries struck by violence and disasters.
But Thursday morning, in a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court decided the Trump administration has the authority to end TPS for Haiti and Syria.
Springfield Vilès Dorsainvil, who came to the U.S. from Haiti through TPS, is executive director of Springfield’s Haitian Support Center.
He believes this ruling amplifies the humanitarian crisis his fellow countrymen are already experiencing.
"I expected the Supreme Court to do a better ruling. But unfortunately, this is not the case. I really have been really disappointed," Dorsainvil said at a news conference. "The worst thing now is employers will terminate workers."
TPS holders’ work permits are based upon their legal status in this country.
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, which represents many Haitians in Ohio, said that now "many affected individuals, including parents and essential workers, now face the loss of work authorization and an uncertain future."
Also, these individuals will lose their valid Ohio drivers’ license on July 6, according to ABLE.
Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement on the ruling that "today’s decision is a legal decision. As I have stated in the past, the policy to remove these individuals from this country is a mistake."
A bipartisan program, now under fire
Congress enacted the TPS program in 1990 for people from countries that have experienced violence, natural disasters or other unsafe conditions. It had bipartisan support for decades.
"The situation in Haiti could hardly be much worse," DeWine said. "The violent gangs run most of the country. The government barely functions. And, the economy is in shambles."
Originally, Haiti's TPS was to end in February of this year. But a federal judge stayed that order.
The Department of Homeland Security maintains conditions in Haiti have improved enough for Haitian citizens to safely return home. Meanwhile, The State Department maintains a Level 4 travel advisory–warning Americans to avoid the country due to widespread gang violence, kidnapping, civil unrest, and poor healthcare infrastructure.
Geoff Pipoly is the lead attorney who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court Justices on behalf of TPS holding Haitians. During a zoom news conference, he apologized to his clients and to all TPS holding Haitians.
"The Supreme Court's decision means many, many people are going to die violent, needless deaths," Pipoly said. "That's what's kept me up nights for eight months."
Pipoly is also surprised the justices did not view controversial statements made by Trump and others in his administration as racially discriminatory.
"The most surprising thing is that according to the Supreme Court, all the president's statements about Haitian people eating people's dogs and cats and that they 'all have AIDS' and that they're 'undesirables' from a 'shit hole' country," Pipoly said. "(The court ruled) none of that has anything to do with racial discrimination."
In writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said "None of the cited statements by either the president nor the secretary was overtly racial, and in substance all expressed policy views that could rest on race-neutral justifications."
The Department of Homeland Security lists 10 other countries with TPS designation.
Uncertainty, fear in wake of ruling
Now many in Springfield fear federal ICE agents will aggressively round up Haitian residents, arrest and deport them.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue issued a statement acknowledging the impact of today's ruling on the city's immigrant families.
"Many of the individuals affected by this decision are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, taxpayers and parents. They contribute to our local economy, support our schools, strengthen our neighborhoods and have become part of the fabric of Springfield," Rue said.
"While we respect the judicial process and will follow federal law, our top priority remains the safety and well-being of all residents. We value every person in our community and remain committed to maintaining stability and support for those who call our City home. Court decisions may shape policy, but the strength of a community is shaped by the people who show up every day to build it. Springfield will not lose sight of that.”
Carl Ruby is head pastor of Springfield’s Central Christian Church. He says many faith leaders in the community are talking about designating their churches as sanctuary locations for immigrants who are not U.S. citizens.
"We are told that God loves immigrants. That we were once immigrants and that we are to love immigrants," Ruby said.
"When there's a conflict between man's laws and God's laws, we have an obligation to side with God's laws."
Ruby says his and other churches as well as nonprofit groups are now accepting donations in order to cover the financial needs of many Haitians in their community.
Katie Kersh, managing attorney of the Immigration practice group at Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, urged all TPS holding immigrants to look for other visas that will enable them to legally stay.
"There are other types of visas such as student visas and employment visas that are going to be much more difficult for people to get if they have been out of status," Kersh said. "I would also implore people to look at this now ... The immigration system moves very slowly."
Kaitlin Schroeder contributed to this report.
