Among the lunch patrons Tuesday was Mark Stephenson, who owns Sterling Wealth Management in Springfield. He said multiple business owners he knows in Springfield and Columbus were at risk of shutting down entire shifts and production lines if Haitians lost their legal work status.
“Having the Haitian community come to Springfield was just for many people a culture shock, and they have become so important for the community as a whole,” Stephenson said. “I’ve got business owner friends who love having them work in their factories and shops. They just work so hard and they’ve just become integral to how they do business.”
Sitting next to him was Springfield resident Laura Gordon, who said she was also concerned about the end of TPS.
“I just don’t want families ripped apart. I worry about the children that might be left behind, and all of the Haitian families that I have met have been so kind and so wonderful, beautiful people and I don’t want anything bad to happen to them,” Gordon said.
Among the patrons were Haitian immigrants who welcome the judge’s ruling.
“This is good for us,” said one man, who did not want to be identified, of the extension of TPS by the courts. “Now we can say we are a little bit protected.”
But some said that despite the extension, fears persist.
“There are people who don’t want to go out,” one woman said through a translation app on her phone.
DIG INTO OUR HAITIAN COVERAGE
Clark County Sheriff’s Office to ‘maintain the peace’ as TPS ends, will not enforce immigration laws
WATCH: Haitian restaurant in Springfield struggles as federal protections near expiration
• What’s coming?: After some initially warned of an anticipated 30-day ICE surge following the end of TPS, school and state officials stressed they have had no direct communication with the feds about potential enforcement actions, but they are preparing for the possibility.
• A community in fear: Reporter Cornelius Frolik traveled the streets of Springfield with a translator and spoke to more than a dozen Haitian people living and working in the Springfield area. Most of them expressed feelings of uncertainty and dread about the TPS cancellation.
• Lawsuits: Area Haitians on TPS are pinning their hopes on a couple of lawsuits that challenge the legality of the federal government’s decision to cancel the TPS designation for Haiti. Here are the details on those lawsuits, including one involving a Springfield man.
• Keket: Our reporters sat down with a local restaurant owner concerned that immigration enforcement fears could close her business. Her compelling personal story is captured in writing and video here.
• Residents prepare: More than 80 people took part in an educational event at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Springfield Thursday evening, learning about their rights and those of their neighbors regardless of immigration status.
• Law enforcement: Local law enforcement officials say they will work to “maintain the peace” amid any ICE surge, but they won’t enforce federal immigration law.
• City leaders: The Springfield City Commission unanimously passed a resolution asking federal immigration agents to follow local rules when conducting enforcement activities.
• Politicians react: Our statehouse reporter Avery Kreemer reached out to politicians who represent Dayton and Springfield at the state and national level about their views on ending TPS and an ICE surge. Read that story here.
• How we got here: We have been reporting on the growth of the Haitian population in Springfield and its effect on the community for years. This story from the archive explains why so many Haitians relocated to Springfield, Ohio.
• Community survey: In addition to reporters interviewing residents on the street, we created an online survey to gather community perspective. I’ll have a summary of responses in an upcoming story.
• Dayton action: Several Dayton restaurants and other businesses closed Friday and hundreds of people gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner’s Dayton office as part of the nationwide protest of ICE operations.
• VIDEO: What to know about Haitian immigration in Springfield
• VIDEO: Haitian immigrant community grows in Springfield
About the Author
