<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration has begun deporting Haitians who are illegally residing in the United States following the expiration of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. Some conservative voices argue that the administration's actions do not fully meet President Donald Trump's campaign promises.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With the courts allowing the Trump administration to terminate TPS, approximately 350,000 Haitian illegal immigrants are no longer authorized to work in the U.S. and have lost protections against deportation, making them targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In late July, ICE contacted hundreds of Haitians in the Springfield, Ohio region, instructing them to check in with immigration authorities at a local federal office. Many reported being fitted with ankle monitors, according to lawyers who spoke with the Haitian Times.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Washington Examiner reported that ICE was preparing to target Haitians both nationally and in Springfield, following Trump's comments during the 2024 presidential election that criticized Haitians in Ohio.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the lack of deportation protections for Haitians, the number of deportations has been limited. ICE reported two deportation flights to Haiti in the past two weeks, totaling around 300 individuals.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration has promoted its immigration enforcement efforts on social media, urging the approximately 350,000 Haitians without TPS protections to leave voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. The Department of Homeland Security posted a video showing Haitian individuals being deported.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The video has drawn criticism from some conservatives, who argue that the current rate of deportations is insufficient given the size of the Haitian population in the U.S. Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, noted that at the current rate, only 10,000 Haitians would be deported in a year, which he deemed ineffective.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, echoed these concerns, stating that the increase in deportation flights would still result in a limited number of deportations relative to the population of Haitians who lost TPS.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Immigrant rights groups have expressed concerns that the Trump administration is disproportionately targeting Haitians compared to other nationalities. Theresa Hice-Fromille, a board member at the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, reported that 29 Haitian immigrants had been detained by ICE in the city, which has a population of approximately 15,000 Haitians.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Friday, local religious leaders held a press conference to condemn ICE's actions, describing Springfield as being “under siege,” according to local media reports.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">DHS and ICE did not provide specific numbers regarding the arrests of Haitian immigrants in Springfield when requested by the Washington Examiner.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A spokesperson for DHS stated that the department conducts law enforcement activities nationwide to ensure public safety and emphasized that TPS is intended to be a temporary measure. The spokesperson noted that TPS should not be viewed as a permanent solution.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Immigrant rights organizations, including the Haitian Support Center and Haitian Bridge Alliance, as well as the city of Springfield, did not respond to requests for comment.</p>