SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — During the 2024 election, Springfield entered the national spotlight because of the large number of Haitian immigrants who recently moved there.

While most of them are in the U.S. with temporary protected status, some are on edge as President Donald Trump makes immigration a focal point of his second term.

What You Need To Know

  • Jacob Payen, spokesperson for the Haitian Community Alliance, said Trump’s inauguration is spreading concern in Springfield

  • Leaders are trying to break through the misconceptions surrounding immigrants in the U.S.

  • Community members have been working to show support for their Haitian neighbors

Jacob Payen, spokesperson for the Haitian Community Alliance, said Trump’s inauguration is spreading concern in Springfield and people are worried about possible executive orders regarding immigration.

“They’re worried about whether or not they’re going to sign an executive order to stop all the programs the Haitians are part of, such as TPS,” Payen said. “There’s a CBP program where you cross the border, they give you I-94, allows you to stay legally for two years.”

Another program is called Haitian Humanitarian Parole that Payen said it was initiated by former President Joe Biden.

Biden had initiated a few programs that someone who was fleeing away from violence for example, could participate in and get legal status or some kind of legal documentation to be able to work while on American soil.

It may take time for a deportation to happen when someone is part of a program, but Payen said people are still worried that may all come to an end. TPS, for example, he said it ends next year for many of the Haitians.

“America is built on immigrants,” Payen said. “I mean, it would be fair to say that President Trump's wife, the first lady, is an immigrant, Mr. JD Vance’s wife is immigrant.”

He said Haitians pay American dollars to apply for these programs, and they are hardworking people.

Some are here to better their lives and flee violence, gangs and political turmoil back in their country.

“No, I don’t think anybody should be in America illegally,” Payen said. “But there are other channels to bring all these people to legality to make them legal. Yes, I believe there are proper channels. This is what president Biden was doing.”

Cheryl Lessen gathered with some people from surrounding areas to support Haitians in Springfield and immigrants across the U.S.

Lessen said Revcom Corps for the Emancipation of Humanity issued a call nationwide for people to step out on inauguration day.

With billboards with signs and single-digit weather, Lessen and other members stood in the middle of an intersection in Springfield right after inauguration.

“Defend the lives, defend the rights of our Haitian sisters and brothers, defend the lives, defend the rights of immigrants,” Lessen said. “Because Springfield has been the target, a particular target, and the Haitian community has been a particular target of the Maga fascist leading up to now and of Trump and Vance leading up to now.”

Another way people are wrapping their arms around the Haitian community is by dining in their restaurants.

Andi Davenport went to a Haitian restaurant to meet one of her good friends because she wanted to support the community during inauguration.

Davenport can relate because her ex-husband was an immigrant.

“When the Muslim ban first went in, my family faced a lot of problems,” Davenport said. “My daughter and I had a Muslim last name. Sorry this is hard — this is important to be here and show our neighbors this is not us.”

Payen said Ohio’s Gov. Mike DeWine has been helping the Haitian community in Springfield. He said they’ve been holding weekly meetings with a group from the governor’s office.

There are many misconceptions around immigration, Payen said, from both sides. People on immigration status think they’re going to be on the street and get pulled up and arrested, Payen said, because they’ve seen that before. But there’s a legal process to do that.

On the other side, there’s a misconception that immigrants take away benefits from Americans.

“A lot of people think the Haitian folks or the immigrants are here taking away the public assistance from them, such as food stamps, Medicaid, and you know, all the assistance they’re used to get,” Payen said. “But they fail to realize it’s a federal program. If I qualify for it, the funds come from federal government, and guess what? What they don’t understand once we start working, we start earning money, we no longer qualify for those public funds.”

Payen has one message to send to Trump:

“We just have to stay united and see if we can change the narrative that we have to leave the country for the country to move forward,” Payen said. “We just have to find a way to get the president to understand he’s going to make a huge mistake by getting rid of immigrants. I don’t think immigration is the problem. I think criminality is the problem.”