BS BRIEFER
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is facing fierce backlash after saying deporting Haitian migrants with expiring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would be “a mistake” and praising their role in reviving Springfield’s economy.
- The comments come as the Trump administration prepares expanded ICE enforcement following the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the administration to end Haiti’s TPS designation, affecting more than 300,000 Haitians nationwide.
DEWINE BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON HAITIAN DEPORTATIONS, TAKES HEAT FROM CONSERVATIVES
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is finding himself at odds with President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda after urging the administration not to deport thousands of Haitian migrants living in his state.
Speaking with CBS News, DeWine argued that sending Haitians back to their homeland would be “a mistake.”
“Haiti is hell today. So you’d be sending people… back to hell,” DeWine said. “Very few of these Haitians will voluntarily go back… They want to work. They want to support their family.”
The Republican governor also defended the Haitian community in Springfield, saying the workers helped breathe new life into the city.
“These are people who have helped Springfield really come back,” DeWine said. “They came there because there were jobs that were not being filled by other people.”
His remarks immediately triggered backlash across conservative social media.
Federalist co-founder Sean Davis responded, “What makes Haiti hellish? Is it… the Haitians?“
Blaze editor Logan Hall asked, “Hey governor, what is it that makes Haiti so bad anyway?“
Internet entrepreneur Larry Sanger added, “If Haiti is hell, why are we importing Haitians?“
The criticism comes just days after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Haiti’s TPS designation, allowing ICE to begin expanded enforcement operations. Federal officials have indicated Ohio—particularly Springfield—will be a major focus because of its large Haitian population.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the policy, saying, “Temporary Protected Status is exactly that—temporary. For too long, TPS has functioned as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent.”
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Fox News – Red state governor pummeled online after defying Trump’s deportation orders
- CBS News – Ohio’s GOP governor calls Trump’s plans to deport Haitians a “mistake”
- Axios – How SCOTUS deepened TPS uncertainty
- Associated Press – Loss of work authorization sows confusion for Haitian immigrants and employers
