Ohio's GOP governor calls Trump's plans to deport Haitians a "mistake"

Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has publicly stated that the Trump administration's plan to increase arrests and deportations of Haitian migrants is a "mistake." DeWine expressed concerns that such actions could negatively impact Ohio's economy and potentially endanger Haitians by sending them back to their home country.

His comments come as more than 300,000 Haitians are set to lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program shielding them from deportation and allowing them to work. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly has plans for a deportation blitz targeting Haitian migrants as early as this week. Ohio, particularly the city of Springfield, is home to thousands of Haitians who have contributed significantly to the local economy.

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These are people who have helped Springfield really come back. The Haitians who are living there and employed there, they came there to work, and they came there because there were jobs that were not being filled by other people.

DeWine emphasized that these deportations would be "a blow to Springfield" and "a blow to the state of Ohio." He highlighted that Haitian immigrants have been instrumental in revitalizing Springfield, filling jobs that others were not taking and opening businesses. "These are people who have helped Springfield really come back," DeWine said, noting their desire to work and support their families.

Furthermore, the governor pointed to the severe security situation in Haiti, describing it as being in "virtual chaos" with a "no semblance of government." He warned that sending Haitians back would be akin to sending them "back to hell," predicting that most would seek to go to other countries rather than return to Haiti if forced to leave. Haiti has been under TPS since 2010 following a devastating earthquake, with the status renewed periodically due to ongoing violence and instability.

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Haiti is hell today. So you'd be sending people … back to hell. Very few of these Haitians will voluntarily go back to Haiti. If they have to leave, they'll go someplace else. They want to work. They want to support their family. They don't want to go back to Haiti.