Ohio Prepares for Potential Separation of Haitian Families Due to TPS Termination

Over 3,000 children born in Central Ohio to Haitian parents with TPS face uncertainty as deportation looms

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Hundreds of Haitian parents living in Ohio under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) face the possibility of deportation, leaving over 3,000 U.S. citizen children born in Franklin and Clark counties since 2020 without their parents. Local advocates and officials are working to prepare for the potential separation of families, including securing passports for children, finding guardians, and arranging respite care to avoid the child welfare system.

Why it matters

The potential termination of TPS for Haitian immigrants could lead to the forced separation of thousands of families in Ohio, with U.S. citizen children left behind. This raises concerns about the ability of the child welfare system to handle a large influx of children, as well as the trauma experienced by families facing deportation.

The details

The Trump administration has sought to terminate TPS for Haitians, which allows them to legally live and work in the U.S. until the federal government deems it safe for them to return. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the termination, but the administration has appealed. Nationally, an estimated 350,000 Haitians have TPS, with 50,000 U.S. citizen children having at least one Haitian TPS holder as a parent. In Central Ohio, over 3,000 children born since 2020 have Haitian parents, and advocates estimate 30,000 Haitians live in the Columbus area, many with TPS.

  • On Feb. 2, a federal judge blocked the termination of TPS for Haitians, postponing its cancellation.
  • The Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security have appealed the judge's decision.

The players

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

A legal status that allows immigrants from certain countries designated as unsafe to live and work in the U.S. until the federal government determines it is safe for them to return.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including the potential deportation of Haitian TPS holders.

Casey Rollins

The executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Springfield, Ohio, who has been working with Haitian families to prepare for the potential end of TPS.

Amy Willmann

The executive director of the Nehemiah Foundation in Springfield, Ohio, which is working to set up a care portal with local churches to provide short-term respite care for children of deported Haitian parents.

Tom McGrath

The director of the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, who said a large church could serve as a temporary housing location for children if their Haitian parents are deported or detained.

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What they’re saying

“These children will not be abandoned but the state will take them if we don't find private accommodations for them.”

— Casey Rollins, Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul (The Columbus Dispatch)

“We want these children reunited with their families. This could be about kinship care, this is definitely not about letting them become wards of the state. We'd like to avoid that all together if possible.”

— Casey Rollins, Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul (The Columbus Dispatch)

What’s next

The judge's decision to temporarily block the termination of TPS for Haitians has postponed the potential deportations, but the Trump administration's appeal means the future remains uncertain. Local advocates and officials in Ohio will continue working to prepare for the possibility of family separations, including securing guardianships and arranging respite care for children.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the difficult choices and potential trauma facing immigrant families with U.S. citizen children if TPS is terminated. While local groups are working to support these families, the long-term impact on children separated from their parents remains a major concern that the federal government must address.