Ohio Governor Mike DeWine broke with the Trump administration on Thursday, criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe that clears the way for ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians. In a sharply worded statement, the Republican governor said the policy to remove these individuals from the country is a mistake.
“Today’s decision is a legal decision. As I have stated in the past, the policy to remove these individuals from this country is a mistake,” DeWine said. His remarks come as the high court sided with the administration’s efforts to strip humanitarian protections from roughly 10,000 Haitians living in Ohio alone.
The ruling directly affects Haitians and Syrians covered by TPS, a program that shields citizens from designated countries facing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances from deportation and grants them work authorization. The Department of Homeland Security secretary has the authority to add nations to the TPS list, but the Trump administration has moved to end protections for 13 of the 17 countries currently enrolled.
DeWine’s dissent underscores a rare split within the GOP on immigration policy. While many Republicans have backed the president’s hardline stance, DeWine highlighted the economic and social contributions of TPS holders in his state. Ohio’s Haitian community has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in cities like Springfield and Columbus, where they work in manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to have ripple effects beyond Haiti and Syria. Legal experts warn that it could embolden the administration to accelerate termination of TPS for other nations, affecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The court's green light for ending TPS for Haitians and Syrians has already drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who blasted the ruling as cruel and shortsighted.
Democrats in Congress quickly condemned the decision. They blasted the ruling, arguing it undermines America’s humanitarian commitments and destabilizes communities that have integrated into the fabric of states like Ohio. DeWine’s position may add pressure on moderate Republicans to reconsider their stance on TPS.
The governor’s statement did not detail any specific actions he plans to take, but his opposition signals potential legal or administrative hurdles for the administration’s implementation. Ohio has previously clashed with federal immigration policy, including DeWine’s veto of a voter ID bill, indicating his willingness to diverge from party lines on certain issues.
As the administration moves to end TPS, the fate of thousands of Haitians and Syrians hangs in the balance. DeWine’s critique may galvanize local advocacy groups and set the stage for a broader fight over immigration enforcement in the heartland.
