Haiti

Haitians in the Heartland presents the stories of Ohioans in Springfield in their own voices.

The city of Springfield is home to thousands of legal Haitian immigrants. The mayor stated that the lawsuit "sends a clear message that hate, intimidation, and violence, have no place in our community.”

Some of Springfield's estimated 15,000 Haitians are seeking solace and divine intervention in their churches or at shops that sell spiritual products. Community leaders say many are overwhelmed by fears Donald Trump will end or let expire the Temporary Protected Status program that allows them to remain in the U.S. legally.

Independence High School teachers told the Columbus Board of Education Wednesday their population grew from around 600 students to 900. Many of these new students speak Haitian-Creole or Spanish.

Former President Donald Trump has pledged to revoke the short-term protective status of Haitian immigrants in Ohio and see to their deportations during a second term.

The leader of a Haitian community organization in Reynoldsburg would like to see more support from elected leaders.

The criminal charges were filed in Springfield by a Haitian organization last month, accusing Trump and Vance of disrupting public services and making false alarms.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is continuing to walk a fine line on questions about former president Trump’s comments and legal immigrants in Springfield.

A strange moment in American politics paid a visit to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, brought there by a top Haitian official.

Springfield schools have hired staff to teach Haitian students and other English language learners, but there is no evidence that each student "will have a private interpreter." There is also no evidence that non-Haitian students have been displaced.