The Republican governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, is facing significant backlash after expressing his opposition to an executive order aimed at ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants. His state is home to around 30,000 Haitian TPS holders. In a recent CBS interview, DeWine asserted that sending Haitians back would be a mistake, stating, “Haiti today is hell, so you’re going to send people back to… hell.” He emphasized that very few Haitians would choose to return voluntarily, as they aspire to work and raise their families elsewhere.
Online critics quickly reacted, questioning the nature of DeWine’s comments. Some argued that those responsible for Haiti’s situation would prefer that the governor allow the immigrants to remain in the U.S. Notably, Federalist co-founder Sean Davis provocatively asked, “What makes Haiti hell? Is it… the Haitians?” Another user remarked, “If Haiti is hell, why are we importing Haitians?” This sparked further discussions about the perception of Haiti, drawing references to the controversial remarks made by former President Trump in 2018.
DeWine’s remarks may have provoked strong reactions, with some finding discrepancies between his statements and the opinions expressed by various celebrities touting Haiti’s beauty. In a light-hearted yet critical response, comedian Conan O’Brien indicated that if Trump dislikes the Haitian people, it might actually suggest that they are quite admirable.
Within this context, DeWine articulated in his CBS interview that deporting Haitians poses a risk to their lives. He particularly highlighted the contributions of Haitian TPS holders in Springfield, noting that they have significantly aided the city’s recovery by taking on jobs that others would not. TPS officially concluded after a Supreme Court review of an executive order from Trump.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security underscored that TPS was intended to be a temporary measure, arguing that it has, in effect, become a form of amnesty without Congressional support for its permanence.
When Fox News Digital attempted to acquire further commentary from DeWine’s office regarding the online responses, they declined to engage. They also reached out to the White House but did not receive a response by the publication time.
