DeWine says deporting Haitians is not in Ohio's self-interest
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that deporting Haitians with Temporary Protected Status is "just not in our own self-interest," citing workforce gaps in healthcare and manufacturing. His CNN remarks came days after the Supreme Court cleared the Trump administration to end TPS protections for roughly 350,000 Haitians nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 25 that the administration may terminate TPS for Haitians and Syrians, ending work authorization for hundreds of thousands.
- DeWine told CNN he accepts the ruling but called deporting working Haitians a policy mistake that would harm Ohio's economy.
- An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Haitians live in the Springfield, Ohio, area, where community groups report fear and legal limbo.
- NPR reports the TPS program may effectively be over after the court barred judicial review of termination decisions.
What did the Supreme Court rule on TPS for Haitians?
On June 25, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Mullin v. Doe that the Department of Homeland Security has broad authority to end Temporary Protected Status designations, and that federal courts generally cannot review those decisions. The ruling affects about 350,000 Haitians and roughly 6,000 Syrians who had been living and working legally in the United States.
According to NBC News, work permits are set to expire and deportation protections will end, though affected people may still pursue other legal avenues such as asylum. In Ohio, many TPS holders' driver's licenses had been extended through July 6 while litigation was pending.
Why is DeWine opposing deportations of Haitians?
Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" on June 28, DeWine said he respects the court's decision but urged the Trump administration to reconsider on practical grounds. "I think it's a mistake," he told host Jake Tapper, arguing Haiti remains too dangerous for large-scale returns due to gang violence.
DeWine highlighted economic stakes for Ohio, where more than 10,000 Haitians have lived legally through TPS, mostly around Springfield. "It's Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad who has Alzheimer's," he said, adding that removing workers from manufacturing, healthcare, and food production is "just not in our own self-interest."
He said Haitians are filling jobs that would otherwise go unfilled and contributing through homeownership and local businesses. DeWine also praised the administration's border enforcement but argued the country must now weigh broader self-interest, noting Ohio "was built by immigrants."
What happens next for Haitians in Springfield, Ohio?
NBC News reports Springfield's Haitian community—estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 people—faces immediate uncertainty. Faith leaders rallied outside City Hall after the ruling, and the Haitian Support Center is coordinating housing, transportation, and legal help with nonprofits.
Community advocates describe high fear of detention, even though mass deportations may not happen overnight. DeWine said Thursday's ruling means Haitians who were legally employed one day may now be barred from work the next. He called on the administration to reconsider, as debate continues over whether policy and technology can help communities navigate fast-shifting immigration rules.
According to NPR, Congress created TPS in 1990, and the House recently passed legislation to extend protections for Haitians. Even if the Senate acts, President Trump would likely veto it—leaving the program's future in doubt after the court's decision.