Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has publicly criticized the Trump administration's plan to ramp up arrests and deportations of Haitian migrants, calling it a "mistake." In an interview on Monday, July 28, 2026, in Columbus, DeWine told CBS News that the planned deportation operations would be "a blow to Springfield" and "a blow to the state of Ohio."
More than 300,000 Haitians are set to lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) this week, a humanitarian immigration program that shields them from deportation and allows them to work legally in the U.S. This follows a Supreme Court decision upholding the Trump administration's plan to end TPS for Haitians. According to federal data, around 334,000 Haitians held TPS as of last year, excluding those with green cards.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has prepared plans to launch a deportation blitz focused on Haitian migrants as early as this week. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated to CBS News, "What we would say now is it's closing time which means you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," encouraging those losing protected status to self-deport for $2,600 and a "free flight home."
DeWine expressed concerns that the deportations could harm Ohio's economy and put Haitians at risk in their home country, which has led the U.S. State Department to warn Americans against traveling there. He predicted that many Haitians would seek to relocate to other countries rather than return to Haiti.
Reflecting on the local impact, DeWine noted that Haitian migrants have helped Springfield, Ohio, recover economically. He said, "These are people who have helped Springfield really come back." He also highlighted that many Haitians came to work in jobs that were not being filled by others.
DeWine also addressed false claims made during the 2024 campaign by President Trump, who alleged without evidence that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs. DeWine called those claims "something that came up on the internet, and the internet can be quite crazy sometimes," noting local officials found no evidence to support them.
Previously, DeWine acknowledged challenges from the influx of as many as 15,000 immigrants in and around a city of less than 60,000 residents, including strains on the local healthcare system.
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