1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to prevent large-scale ICE enforcement operations in Springfield, Ohio, following the February 3 expiration of temporary protected status for Haitians. This community faces an imminent crisis that demands your intervention. Springfield is home to approximately 15,000 Haitians who represent one-fourth of the city's total population. These individuals have built lives, established businesses, and contributed to the local economy under legal protections that are now being stripped away overnight. An additional 30,000 Haitians living in central Ohio face the same uncertainty. The sudden loss of TPS for more than 500,000 Haitians nationwide will expose people who have been living legally in the United States to deportation, creating chaos in communities that depend on their labor and participation. Mass enforcement actions would devastate Springfield's economy and social fabric. These residents work in local businesses, pay taxes, send their children to schools, and have become integral members of the community. Removing one-fourth of a city's population through immigration raids would collapse essential services, shutter businesses facing labor shortages, and traumatize families and neighbors who witness their community torn apart. Governor DeWine's preparations for a surge in immigration enforcement activities signal that state officials anticipate significant ICE operations. Rather than facilitating these raids, Ohio's representatives should be working to extend TPS protections and prevent enforcement actions that will harm constituents and destabilize entire communities. I am asking you to publicly oppose ICE operations in Springfield and central Ohio, advocate for the extension of temporary protected status for Haitians, and use your position to protect the thousands of families who face deportation to a country the federal government has deemed too dangerous for their return. Springfield needs protection for its residents, not preparation for their removal.