Hundreds gather in Ohio city to support Haitian migrants facing TPS uncertainty

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(2 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Springfield, Ohio - 2 February 2026 1. People singing in church 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action: “That's why we're here today. Because the decision to end temporary protective status for Haitians and Venezuelans and so many other folks is not just a bureaucratic adjustment, it is a moral test for America.” 3. Various of people singing in church 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action: "Haitian workers are central to the life of this region. They keep businesses running, staff health care facilities, support food production, childcare and local industry. Removing families and workers from Clark County will not strengthen Springfield, it will destabilize it. When families are torn apart, schools suffer. When workers are removed, businesses suffer. When fear spreads, communities suffer. Protecting Haitian families protects Springfield. But hear me clearly, we do not defend Haitian families because they are economically useful. We defend them because they are the image bearers of God.” 5. People praying in church 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Geoff Pipoly, attorney representing TPS holders: “You know, Springfield sort of became the center of the universe for this after the debates, obviously. But we've got plaintiffs from all around the country. We've got Fritz, who's a PhD candidate in neuroscience in California. He's studying Alzheimer's. We've got Marica, she's a young woman who works in finance in New York. All of them really, really impressive people, but we're suing on behalf of all TPS holders, not just our individual plaintiffs.” 7. Various of signs 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Geoff Pipoly, attorney representing TPS holders: “I don’t know how much of an appetite there is to appeal every single TPS designation that gets terminated because, frankly, they are losing across the board at the trial court level.” 9. People singing in church 10. People listening in church 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sally Duffy, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati: “They are not violent criminals, but rather hardworking, contributing to our economy, seeing that their children are in school, revitalizing our neighborhoods and our cities like Springfield, Ohio, and look at the $300 million that is being contributed in Clark County through immigrants.” 12. Various of church exteriors STORYLINE: In a church crowded to overcapacity, two-dozen faith leaders and their audience of hundreds sang and prayed together in unity Monday as a sign of support for Haitian migrants, some of whom fear their protected status in the United States may be ended this week. Religious leaders representing congregations from across the United States attended the event at Springfield’s St. John Missionary Baptist Church, demanding an extension of the Temporary Protection Status that has allowed thousands of Haitian migrants to legally arrive in Springfield in recent years fleeing unrest and gang violence in their homeland. The TPS designation for Haiti is set to expire Tuesday, and those gathered were hoping that a federal judge might intervene and issue a pause. “That's why we're here today. Because the decision to end temporary protective status for Haitians and Venezuelans and so many other folks is not just a bureaucratic adjustment, it is a moral test for America,” Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action: told the packed church. Hundreds joined a choir clapping and singing: “You got to put one foot in front of the other and lead with love.” Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/37e04a25a75c464fb6ece1d343e7f89c