Inside a church south of downtown Springfield, Ohio, a group of around 30 Haitians, religious leaders, and residents gathered on a warm summer evening to discuss possible next steps.
Days earlier, the Department of Homeland Security had announced that Haitian nationals under temporary protected status (TPS) would face removal proceedings by early September. Though a federal judge in New York later halted the decision, uncertainty remained—particularly after a Supreme Court ruling in May allowed the removal of 350,000 Venezuelans with similar protections.
Within the church, pamphlets outlining steps to prepare for potential enforcement actions circulated among attendees. Representatives from a local legal group fielded urgent questions, including how to respond if approached by immigration officers.
Among those present were volunteers working to prevent possible family separations and statelessness for U.S.-born Haitian children.
"In recent months, we've seen the urgency grow," said Casey Rollins, a volunteer with a local charity. "If parents facing deportation don't have passports for their children, how can they leave together?"
Past actions have set a concerning precedent: A 2023 report found nearly 1,000 children separated from their families at the southern border in 2017 and 2018 remained unreunited.
Springfield has over 1,200 American-born Haitian children under four, with thousands more minors under 18. While the exact number of adults holding TPS in the city is unclear, local estimates suggest between 10,000 and 15,000 Haitians have settled there since 2017, attracted by job opportunities. School district records show 1,258 K-12 students enrolled as English learners, though not all are of Haitian background.
For months, Rollins and other volunteers have assisted Haitian families seeking guidance daily. A pressing concern for many, she noted, is securing birth certificates for their children before time runs out.
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