On Monday, Feb 2. a federal judge blocked the end of the Temporary Protected Status of Haiti that was set to expire Tuesday, Feb. 3. In Springfield, approximately 10,000 – 15,000 Haitians were set to lose the protections that allowed them to stay in the U.S..
With the request to pause the end of Haiti’s TPS granted, the next legal steps are uncertain and Haitians in Springfield are hesitant to feel relief.
Before the termination of Haiti’s TPS was blocked, Springfield City Schools Superintendent Bob Hill, Gov. DeWine and state leadership discussed the upcoming event in a recent meeting. In which emergency management officials and others conferred about a federal immigration enforcement initiative that may begin sometime after the TPS deadline.
A spokesperson for DeWine encouraged people to stay calm as everything is still hypothetical, but citizens are nonetheless preparing for an ICE operation in the city.
College students at both Sinclair and OSU shared their opinions on the possibility of an ICE operation in Springfield.
Samantha Rader
Samantha Rader, a student at Sinclair College majoring in business management and digital marketing, explained that she found the news shocking,
“I couldn’t imagine going to school and having to fear being taken away from your family… when all you’re doing is getting your education.”
Rader clarified that she was aware of ICE being present around the Dayton area already and argued that it is a violation of human rights to impede a child’s education. She feels that by targeting working families, the ICE program is proving that its intention was never to catch criminals.
Ava Sowry
Ava Sowry, an entomology major at Ohio State University, said that she was not surprised by the development. Sowry believes that by targeting the Haitian population in Springfield, ICE is threatening peoples’ safety.
“I believe it’s indicative of a major problem… around immigration enforcement and the safety of school children.”
Sowry explained that the recent notable controversies like those involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti serve as further evidence that ICE agents are abusing their power under the guise of justice.
“Their humanity should mean more than any paper dictating where someone can and can’t live… the violence being used against innocent people is despicable.”
Nick McGraw
Nick McGraw is a student at Sinclair College majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He said that situation is especially worrying when the safety of children is involved. Considering previous incidents, McGraw feels that ICE has proven a lack of consideration for safety and fairness.
“On one hand, they don’t have full citizenship, it’s just an asylum program, but on the other, fully immigrating seems like an intentionally long and difficult process.”
Lillian Klopf, reporter
Check out more posts by the Clarion:
- YourVoice: Students raise concern over possible ICE operation in Springfield
- PHOTOS: Dayton Bloody Mary Showdown celebrates a favorite cocktail
- Sinclair to hold Feed the Birds events
- My Voice: ‘I don’t feel safe at all’; International students share opinions on ICE
- PHOTOS: Students gather for Design Your Own Mug event
