Prominent Ohio lawmakers have been reacting swiftly to a last-minute court ruling maintaining Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States.
Springfield, Ohio, has been the epicenter of the effort to end TPS for Haitian migrants.
The Ruling and Reactions
On Monday night, Judge Ana Reyes blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS for Haitians, with the decision coming on the eve before the program was to end.
The Trump administration is determined to appeal.
“Supreme Court, here we come. This is lawless activism that we will be vindicated on,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin shared.
“Haiti’s TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program, yet that’s how previous administrations have used it for decades. Temporary means temporary, and the final word will not be from an activist judge legislating from the bench,” she added.
Reyes, a Biden-appointed judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, had strong words for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in her conclusion, claiming that the Trump administration is motivated by racism.
When discussing equal protection arguments, Reyes pointed to plaintiffs arguing that the decision to end TPS was “motivated, at least in part, by racial animus.” She wrote, “The Court finds that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that anti-black and anti-Haitian animus motivated Secretary Noem’s decision to terminate Haiti’s TPS designation.”
The decision was celebrated by Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, a Republican. “This ruling provides clarity and stability for families who are already part of our community. It reflects the reality that many individuals are working, paying taxes, raising families and contributing every day to the life of our City,” he said in a statement shared with The Daily Signal. “Maintaining that stability matters because unnecessary disruption creates uncertainty that serves no one.”
Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, previously spoke to The Daily Signal about the influx of Haitians in Springfield. He acknowledged that Haitians may be employed and paying taxes, but also noted that “those taxes are in no way going to make up for the services, free medical care, housing, education, and on and on that they’re taking out of not only the Ohio budget, but also the government budget.”
Where Does Gov. DeWine Stand?
Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, who has raised concerns about ending TPS, was asked about the ruling on CNN, specifically the claims of “animus” mentioned in Reyes’ ruling.
The governor danced around the issue, offering, “Look, I’m not going to get into what the judge says or the law. The judge is going to have to do what they do. I respect that. We’re going to respect whatever we end up.”
When prompted again, he answered, “Look, I can’t attribute motives to people, what their motives are,” before sharing his thoughts on Haitians. “I just know that these are contributing people to our community. We need them. Our economy needs them. You know, we want to continue to move forward.”
DeWine described Haitians in the community to CNN as “people working hard every day,” which he said has enabled the town to “come back” economically.
He also offered that “the majority of people in Springfield have certainly rallied behind [Haitians] that now they’ve lived aside for one, two, three, four years,” noting that residents “understand … they’re contributing.”
Religious Groups Speak in Favor of Haitian Migrants
Many religious groups have also been active in speaking out in favor of Haitian migrants.
Archbishop Robert G. Casey of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati released a lengthy statement on Sunday, before Reyes’ decision was handed down.
“The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has become a home to many families seeking to escape poverty, violence, and persecution in their home countries. Families from Haiti, Venezuela, and elsewhere have been welcomed and have begun to contribute to their new home,” Casey wrote at one point. “Springfield, for example, has faced remarkable challenges in recent years, yet it has also created a promising future for itself by productively integrating migrant newcomers into its workforce, communities, churches, and schools. Mass deportation jeopardizes the unity of families and the stability of communities that have worked hard to integrate their new members.”
2024, a Preview for 2026?
Haitians in Springfield were a talking point during the 2024 election, for both now-President Donald Trump and now-Vice President JD Vance. The issue looks to be at play in the 2026 midterms as well.
Last Friday, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, urged DeWine and Republican Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted to call for an extension of TPS. Brown lost to Moreno in 2024 and is running against Husted in the 2026 special election.
Moreno was among those quick to mock Brown in a quoted repost over X.
The senator’s pinned post also lambasted Reyes’ ruling.
As for Brown’s opponent later this year, Husted reposted Fox News’ Laura Ingraham’s pointing out, “I think Sherrod Brown just lost his Senate race in Ohio.”
“Senator Husted’s office is monitoring the TPS situation and remains confident that state and local officials in Ohio will continue their longstanding partnership with the federal government in ensuring the immigration law is upheld in a coordinated manner,” Husted’s office told The Daily Signal.
Husted also stressed to CNN cooperation between state and local officials, praising his state and in strong contrast to Minnesota, particularly Minneapolis. “I know in Ohio, in almost every place, if there is a local arrest of somebody who has committed a crime and they’re in this country illegally, they turn those individuals over to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” he offered.
