U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported more than 160 Haitian nationals on Thursday, the first flight since the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status for an estimated 350,000 people living in the United States.
The charter flight landed in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. The deportations follow the Trump administration's decision last month to end TPS for Haitians, a move enabled by a Supreme Court decision and a federal judge's ruling in August.
ICE has signaled plans to target Haitian communities in Ohio, particularly Springfield, which hosts a large Haitian population. President Trump and conservative commentators have focused intensely on the city.
Community leaders in Springfield report widespread fear. Some residents wearing ankle monitors—indicating they lost protected status—say they expect to be arrested next. Recent ICE actions there included the arrest of a well-known pastor and other community members at local stores and traffic stops.
Temporary Protected Status allows foreign nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary conditions to remain in the U.S. and work legally. The executive branch can extend or terminate it.
ICE is expected to continue enforcement actions against Haitians who no longer hold protected status.
