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Haitian migrants in Ohio turn to faith amid deportation fears
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Members of the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, are turning to their faith in the wake of President Donald Trump’s crack down on migration.
"Intimidated. Panicking, for the folks in the community because we are living a very uncertain time," said Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center.
Haitian immigrants in the once desolate town are seeking solace in their churches and local community centers and businesses, overwhelmed by fears Trump will end or let expire the Temporary Protected Status program that allows them to remain in the U.S. legally.
"Specifically with all those executive orders that have been signed, it's a little bit frustrating because people with temporary status here or any other immigrants they feel a little bit threatened to deportation," Dorsainvil said.
He and others have noticed the tole the instability is having on the mental health of many in the community.
"When your mindset isn't that stable because of uncertainty, not knowing what will be happen tomorrow, it creates that kind of issue with your mental health, which is very hard," he said
Thousands of temporary Haitian migrants have legally landed in Springfield in recent years under the TPS program, as longstanding unrest in their home country has given way to violent gangs ruling the streets.
During President Trump's first administration, he used bluntly vulgar language to question why the U.S. would accept immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa.
His 2024 campaign focused heavily on illegal immigration, often referring in his speeches to crimes committed by migrants.
And just last year, Trump falsely accused Haitians in Springfield of eating their neighbor’s cats and dogs.
The false rumors exacerbated fears about division and anti-immigrant sentiment in the mostly white, blue-collar city of about 59,000 where more than 15,000 Haitians live and work.
"I've got a lot of calls. A lot of people ask me, should we leave Ohio? Should we go elsewhere or should we come outside of the house at all? What should we expect? Is there any word about ICE being in Ohio? Those kind of calls. But I always have the same answer. I tell everybody to stay calm, remain, you know, calm, wait for further instructions," said Jacob Payen, a Haitian immigrant, U.S. Navy Veteran and local business owner in Springfield.
Between selling religious candles and spiritual ointments, Payen guides customers with immigration forms, employment authorization cards and questions on their TPS applications.
The migration concerns of clergy and other community members in Springfield are shared by many faith leaders nationwide.
In several cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, interfaith groups are discussing how to provide security and support to migrants in their communities, including those who are undocumented
"Today, we don't have much people we usually have in the church today because people are worried about the thing, so. And I think the pastor was make a point about it to let the people know they don't have to be scared. They have to be alert not to scare," said The Rev. Philomene Philostin of First Haitian Evangelical Church and 30 year resident of the United States.
The TPS program which allows thousands in the community to remain legally in Springfield, expires on February 2026. They hope Trump will keep in mind the violence in Haiti and renew it.
So during a recent Sunday service at First Haitian, just a week into the Trump presidency, The Rev. Reginald Silencieux spoke of rights of immigrants in the U.S. and how to handle ICE if detained along with much prayer and worship.
At the end of the service Silencieux asked God to protect the Haitian people "I just ask God, hey protect your people. Because I can do nothing. Only you can. I just, it was my last prayer in the service to to to ask God that to to to protect them."
"Intimidated. Panicking, for the folks in the community because we are living a very uncertain time," said Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center.
Haitian immigrants in the once desolate town are seeking solace in their churches and local community centers and businesses, overwhelmed by fears Trump will end or let expire the Temporary Protected Status program that allows them to remain in the U.S. legally.
"Specifically with all those executive orders that have been signed, it's a little bit frustrating because people with temporary status here or any other immigrants they feel a little bit threatened to deportation," Dorsainvil said.
He and others have noticed the tole the instability is having on the mental health of many in the community.
"When your mindset isn't that stable because of uncertainty, not knowing what will be happen tomorrow, it creates that kind of issue with your mental health, which is very hard," he said
Thousands of temporary Haitian migrants have legally landed in Springfield in recent years under the TPS program, as longstanding unrest in their home country has given way to violent gangs ruling the streets.
During President Trump's first administration, he used bluntly vulgar language to question why the U.S. would accept immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa.
His 2024 campaign focused heavily on illegal immigration, often referring in his speeches to crimes committed by migrants.
And just last year, Trump falsely accused Haitians in Springfield of eating their neighbor’s cats and dogs.
The false rumors exacerbated fears about division and anti-immigrant sentiment in the mostly white, blue-collar city of about 59,000 where more than 15,000 Haitians live and work.
"I've got a lot of calls. A lot of people ask me, should we leave Ohio? Should we go elsewhere or should we come outside of the house at all? What should we expect? Is there any word about ICE being in Ohio? Those kind of calls. But I always have the same answer. I tell everybody to stay calm, remain, you know, calm, wait for further instructions," said Jacob Payen, a Haitian immigrant, U.S. Navy Veteran and local business owner in Springfield.
Between selling religious candles and spiritual ointments, Payen guides customers with immigration forms, employment authorization cards and questions on their TPS applications.
The migration concerns of clergy and other community members in Springfield are shared by many faith leaders nationwide.
In several cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, interfaith groups are discussing how to provide security and support to migrants in their communities, including those who are undocumented
"Today, we don't have much people we usually have in the church today because people are worried about the thing, so. And I think the pastor was make a point about it to let the people know they don't have to be scared. They have to be alert not to scare," said The Rev. Philomene Philostin of First Haitian Evangelical Church and 30 year resident of the United States.
The TPS program which allows thousands in the community to remain legally in Springfield, expires on February 2026. They hope Trump will keep in mind the violence in Haiti and renew it.
So during a recent Sunday service at First Haitian, just a week into the Trump presidency, The Rev. Reginald Silencieux spoke of rights of immigrants in the U.S. and how to handle ICE if detained along with much prayer and worship.
At the end of the service Silencieux asked God to protect the Haitian people "I just ask God, hey protect your people. Because I can do nothing. Only you can. I just, it was my last prayer in the service to to to ask God that to to to protect them."
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