Haitians in Ohio face uncertainty after Supreme Court ends TPS protection
After a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling on June 25, TPS protections lapsed; some Ohio driver's licenses expired July 1, leaving thousands in legal limbo.
Haitians in Ohio face growing legal uncertainty after the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 declined, in a 6-3 vote, to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals, according to The Herald-Star and other outlets. The decision, part of a broader move ending TPS designations up for renewal, has immediate consequences in Springfield, home to a large Haitian community drawn by jobs and lower living costs. Driver's licenses tied to TPS began expiring July 1, and the ruling does not extend state expiration dates. An estimated 1,700 affected Haitians hold Ohio licenses, though officials believe more than 10,000 TPS holders live in the state. The status of work permits remains unclear, as employment records are held federally. While TPS holders could not be deported during protected status, that protection has now ended, leaving many residents' legal standing in question.