On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that courts could no longer hear challenges to the federal government on matters of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows immigrants to live in the country legally for 18 months before renewal.
TPS applies to countries whose conditions make it unsafe for nationals to return. Without the ability to challenge cases in court, the federal government can terminate TPS and perform mass deportations, as President Trump promised during his 2024 campaign.
According to the American Immigration Council, about 1.3 million people were living in the U.S. under this protection as of March 2025, including more than 330,000 Haitians.
Springfield, Ohio is home to about 12,000 Haitian immigrants.
Geoff Pipoly, lead attorney for Haitians with TPS in Springfield, said in a press conference that the Supreme Court’s decision will lead to “many, many people [dying] violent, needless deaths.”
Related: YourVoice: Students raise concern over ICE operation in Springfield
Viles Dorsainvil is the executive director of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield. He expressed gratitude for the legal efforts of Pipoly and his team, and for citizens who have stood in solidarity with his community.
Dorsainvil said the community has been thriving since 2024, despite derogatory claims made against them in the presidential campaign.
The center is appealing for donations to help with transportation and living costs as they brace for difficult times. Work authorizations and driver’s licenses will expire without ability to renew, according to Kathleen Kersh of Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE). Dorsainvil also said college students will be considered ‘out of state’ residents, creating financial barriers.
“Many Haitians–all Haitians–have a fear of returning to Haiti, and many of them have applied for asylum,” Kersh said. “The administration has really made it almost impossible to receive asylum.”
“I understand now that living in America is dealing with a system that [doesn’t] want you,” said Dorsainvil. “You need a strong mind to resist what is happening.”
Hannah Kichline, executive editor
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