Hancock County Faces Uncertainty Over Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Residents

Local leaders and families grapple with lack of clarity from federal government on next steps for TPS program

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:31pm

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Nearly 1,000 Haitians currently live in Hancock County, Ohio under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but local officials say they remain unsure of what the future holds as the federal government's plans for the program remain unclear. Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn and Hancock County Job and Family Services Director Randall Galbraith express concerns about the lack of communication and guidance from the federal government, making it difficult to plan for potential outcomes if TPS is terminated.

Why it matters

The uncertainty surrounding TPS has left Hancock County's Haitian refugee community and local leaders in a precarious position, unable to prepare for potential family separations or other disruptions to the lives of TPS recipients. This highlights the broader challenges faced by communities with large immigrant populations when federal immigration policies remain in flux.

The details

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to eliminate TPS for nearly 350,000 Haitians nationwide. However, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn and Hancock County Job and Family Services Director Randall Galbraith say they have received little guidance from the federal government on next steps, making it difficult to plan for potential outcomes if TPS is ultimately terminated. Galbraith expressed concerns about how potential family separations would be handled, noting a lack of clarity from the federal government on whether children of TPS recipients would be allowed to remain in the community or would have to travel with their detained parents.

  • In February 2026, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's effort to eliminate Temporary Protected Status for nearly 350,000 Haitians nationwide.

The players

Christina Muryn

The mayor of Findlay, Ohio, who is working with state and federal officials to seek guidance on next steps for the Haitian TPS recipients in Hancock County.

Randall Galbraith

The director of Hancock County Job and Family Services, who is raising concerns about the lack of clarity from the federal government on how potential family separations would be handled if TPS is terminated.

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What they’re saying

“There needs to be communication, um, at all levels so that we can work together so that we can make sure that our communities are not put into chaos and that people are safe.”

— Christina Muryn, Mayor of Findlay

“I don't really have a way to make a plan, so there's not really a plan because I do not know what the intent is or the outcome, so basically right now we're just in a sit-and-wait situation.”

— Randall Galbraith, Director of Hancock County Job and Family Services

What’s next

The judge's ruling blocking the termination of TPS for Haitians remains in place as the lawsuit challenging the administration's efforts moves forward. Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn says she will continue working with state and federal officials to seek more clarity on the federal government's plans for the TPS program and its impact on Hancock County's Haitian refugee community.

The takeaway

The uncertainty surrounding the Temporary Protected Status program has left Hancock County's Haitian refugee community and local leaders in a precarious position, unable to adequately prepare for potential disruptions to the lives of TPS recipients. This highlights the broader challenges faced by communities with large immigrant populations when federal immigration policies remain in flux and communication from the government is lacking.