Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Condemns Trump Administration’s Decision to End Haitian Temporary Protected Status

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has criticized the Trump administration for revoking temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants, calling the policy move “wrong” during an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

“I think there’s a consensus in this country,” DeWine said. “As we all have said, let’s get rid of the violent offenders. Get them out of here. Once you get beyond that, I don’t think there’s a consensus for taking people who are working, who are supporting their family.”

The governor added: “These are people who, if you talk to the employers, they were filling jobs that were not being able to be filled in any other way. So it’s been a big boost to the economy. So if one day they know that TPS is taken away, no employer can hire them anymore.”

A U.S. district court judge in Washington recently issued a temporary stay blocking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s order to terminate TPS for Haitians, pending litigation by five Haitian TPS holders.

In the 83-page memorandum opinion, Judge Ana Reyes — an appointee of former President Joe Biden — stated that Noem did not consult with other agencies as required by law before ending the designation. The judge wrote it seemed “substantially likely” that Noem “preordained her termination decision and did so because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants.”

Reyes also referenced the State Department’s current warning on Haiti, which reissued July 15 stating: “Do not travel to Haiti for any reason,” citing “kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care.” She noted that such a warning does not align with Secretary Noem’s conclusion that Haitians are “suitable for return.”

Secretary Noem had announced in November that TPS for Haitians would expire in February following an earlier order delayed by litigation.

Federal data compiled by the Congressional Research Service as of March 31, 2024, showed 330,735 Haitians held approved TPS applications.

The Springfield, Ohio, Haitian community gained national attention during the 2024 campaign after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance repeated claims about migrants eating household pets. Local and state officials confirmed in 2024 that there was no evidence supporting those allegations.

By Sam Barron