Rev. Reginald Silencieux, right, leads a worship service at the First Haitian Evangelical Church of Springfield, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Springfield, Ohio. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The judge’s order sparked an immediate backlash from the Trump administration.
"Supreme Court, here we come," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on X. "This is lawless activism that we will be vindicated on."
"Haiti’s TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program, yet that’s how previous administrations have used it for decades."
McLaughlin went on to say that "temporary means temporary" and "the final word will not be from an activist judge legislating from the bench."
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, posted on X, "An unelected judge has just ruled that elections, laws and borders don’t exist."
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A mural is seen in Springfield, Ohio. (Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox News Digital)
Springfield became a flashpoint in the presidential election when both President-elect Donald Trump and Vice-President elect JD Vance claimed that Haitian migrants were eating pets there, citing social media posts.
"They're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats," Trump said on the debate stage against Vice-President Harris. "They're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame."
Trump also vowed on the campaign trail that he would end TPS for Haitian migrants and carry out a large-scale deportation effort, promises that Fox News Digital reported in mid-November caused some Haitians to leave the town following Trump’s decisive election victory.
If the TPS status is ultimately revoked, it is unclear what actions ICE will take in Springfield, if any, and although Republican voters largely support Trump's immigration agenda, Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, widely considered to be outside the MAGA wing of the party, suggested Friday. he has concerns about ICE operations in Springfield.
"I think the taking away of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians is a mistake. I think it’s a mistake from a policy point of view for a couple reasons," DeWine said during a press conference, Dayton Daily News reported.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
"One, the situation in Haiti is as dire as I have ever seen it. The gangs are controlling a good part of the country, it’s extremely violent, the economy’s in shambles, the government does not function, the police are virtually worthless, so this is a very, very dangerous place. It doesn’t qualify as the situation changing for the better in Haiti."
DeWine continued, "But probably more important for the United States and the people of Ohio, is that the Temporary Protected Status, if it goes away next week, it’s going to mean that you have thousands of Haitians who are working, contributing members of the community, contributing to the economy, who one day will be able to work and the next day will then not be able to work."
If ICE were to carry out operations in Springfield, DeWine said he expects them to follow "good police practices" and "follow the law."
"If someone wants to demonstrate, they have the right to demonstrate. But, no one should be there to physically interfere with ICE doing what, legally, they are allowed to do," DeWine added.
If the Trump administration officially requests the Supreme Court to get involved and a stay is issued, the administration can resume ending TPS and potentially start enforcement actions in Springfield and other jurisdictions immediately, even while the actual lawsuit continues in the lower courts.
"When a Democrat president can create a TEMPORARY program and an unelected Democrat judge can unilaterally block a duly-elected Republican president from ever undoing it, we do not live in a democracy," Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno posted on X following the Monday ruling.
"It’s not Permanent Protected Status. This outrageous decision cannot stand."
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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