Haitian detentions in Ohio surge after protected status ends

Haitian immigration detentions in Ohio have increased by 142.3% following the expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on July 27. A report from the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, utilizing data from Springfield ICE Watch, documented 74 Haitian detainees between August 7 and September 17 at four specific facilities: Butler County Jail, Mahoning County Justice Center, Seneca County Jail, and the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.

The surge follows a June Supreme Court ruling that allowed the termination of TPS for approximately 330,000 Haitians nationwide. Previously, this status allowed eligible individuals to live and work legally in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in Haiti.

Advocates noted that enforcement actions, including traffic stops, have occurred near workplaces, grocery stores, and apartment complexes. Springfield ICE Watch reported that only 8% of the tracked Haitian detainees held existing removal orders. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has expanded the use of electronic monitoring, such as ankle monitors and the SmartLINK application, stating that supervision decisions are made based on individual immigration status and criminal history.