Immigration

Governor Mike DeWine Says Trump’s Push to End TPS for Haitians Is “Wrong”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine publicly broke with former President Donald Trump on Sunday, criticizing the push to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians living in the United States. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, DeWine said revoking TPS would harm families, employers, and local economies, especially in communities like Springfield, Ohio.

DeWine emphasized that there is broad agreement that violent offenders should be removed from the country. However, beyond those cases, he argued that deporting people who are working, paying taxes, and supporting their families is not in America’s best interest.

His comments followed a wave of misinformation during the 2024 election cycle—including false claims by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance alleging that Haitian migrants in Springfield were eating household pets. State and local officials repeatedly debunked these claims.

DeWine also pointed out that Haitian migrants have been essential in addressing labor shortages. He noted that many Ohio businesses “could not fill these jobs any other way,” and warned that removing TPS protections would make these workers immediately unemployable, creating severe workforce gaps.

Legal Battle Over TPS Continues

The Department of Homeland Security attempted to terminate TPS protections for Haitians effective February 3rd. However, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a stay blocking the order while a lawsuit filed by five Haitian TPS holders moves forward.

Judge Reyes also granted the government more time to respond to the plaintiffs’ amended complaint. Any change will remain on hold until the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the stay. Once the ruling is issued, the government will have five days to formally respond.

As of March last year, more than 330,000 Haitians nationwide were approved for TPS, according to the Congressional Research Service.