For several years, Springfield, Ohio, has been home to a growing Haitian community. Thousands of Haitians came to the city seeking many of the same things people have sought in Springfield for generations: safety, work, family and the opportunity to build a better life.

Now, that community is facing a very different reality. Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haiti ended July 27, changing the circumstances for thousands of Haitians across the country, including a large community in Springfield.

Understanding what that change means requires looking at more than a single immigration status. Haitians in Springfield arrived through different pathways, have different legal circumstances and face different choices about what comes next.

Why Springfield?

Haiti has experienced years of political instability, gang violence and deteriorating security. At the same time, Springfield offered something many newcomers were looking for jobs. Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Support Center, emphasizes that Haitians did not simply arrive outside the legal immigration system. His description is understandable, but the details matter. The United States created several lawful pathways for Haitians to enter the country…..READ MORE….