Ohio community grapples with fear as ICE actions intensify

Last summer, Louis and her family spent five days hiding in their Springfield basement, fearing deportation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They turned off the lights and remained silent, concerned about attracting unwanted attention.

Springfield’s Haitian community, who arrived eight years ago to fill labor shortages, has faced increased scrutiny from ICE. Following a Supreme Court ruling in July that ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 350,000 Haitian nationals, allowing for potential deportation, dozens of ICE agents descended on the town. In September, former US homeland security secretary Markwayne Mullin reported 380 detentions by ICE agents in Springfield.

Louis, originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, immigrated legally in 2021 after fleeing threats related to the murder of her brother in 2018. “I had so many threats from the gangs. I left three months after he was killed,” she recounts.

Resident Sean Moorman began documenting ICE’s activities in August, but this drew attention from the agency. He filed a lawsuit against seven ICE officers, alleging they attempted to ram his vehicle, photographed his car and home, and created a situation that made him fear for his life. A federal judge initially issued a temporary restraining order against the agents, but the order expired on September 18th.

David Carey, managing legal director at the ACLU of Ohio, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, stating, “ICE does not have a blank check to violate first amendment rights.” Moorman declined to comment, fearing retaliation. His lawsuit was dismissed on October 2nd.

ICE stated they are “reviewing appropriate next steps” and reiterated their commitment to enforcing immigration laws. They asserted that “illegal aliens are not welcome in the US.”

Across the country, individuals like Moorman are crucial in exposing ICE’s actions. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, more than two dozen people have been shot by ICE officers, including three US citizens.

Louis said a false statement made by Trump about immigrants in Springfield eating pets was particularly hurtful. This prompted her to become more involved in community issues.

Millions of immigrants have lost legal work authorization in the US under the Trump administration. ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have deported 980,000 people since the beginning of Trump’s second term.

The march across Ohio aims to end ICE detention and ankle monitor usage, encourage ICE to leave Springfield, and establish a pathway to permanent residency for Haitian immigrants. Louis highlighted the case of a Haitian woman whose husband was recently deported to Haiti, potentially forcing the family to return to a region experiencing violence and political instability.