Supreme Court Fails Humanity Again (Haitian/Syrian TPS)
Today, the Supreme Court made another truly inexplicable, inhumane, and undemocratic decision, ruling against Haitians and Syrians in their quest to maintain Temporary Protected Status in the United States. In a press conference that took place immediately after receiving the decision, Viles Dorsainvil of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield talked about how Haitian-Ohioans have been on a long journey seeking the right to remain in this country, and will keep figuring it out. He maintained his characteristic composure, but this is clearly a devastating moment for all.
Attorney Geoff Pipoly, an Ohio native who argued the case before the Supreme Court, talked about the human consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision, stressing that people will die because of it. That possibility has kept him up at night for months. He also reiterated some of the racist comments the President has made about Haitians, explaining that it is truly unfathomable that the Supreme Court’s majority, and Justice Thomas separately, rejected the argument that the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haiti was rooted in racism.
Pastor Carl Ruby, a leader of the G92 faith-based coalition, said all eyes are now on the U.S. Senate to pass the Haiti Emergency Relief Act, which would extend TPS for Haitians until the end of the Trump administration. The bill has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and needs to pass the Senate with a veto-proof majority. “Our hearts are broken by the opinion today, but we will not abandon the Haitian people of Springfield, Ohio,” Pastor Ruby said.
In a separate reaction statement Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, said, “I have a message to Governor DeWine, Senators Moreno and Husted, and the Ohio House members. The only thing to do right now is figure out Plan B. You cannot let Haitian-Ohioans be deported to a country where they will be killed. They are our family members, co-workers, friends, and neighbors. These are our people now. You cannot sit back and let this happen. You have power. Use it to be leaders, now."
Earlier this week, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio issued a statement that read, in part:
We find no moral justification for terminating their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) without an alternative way to adjust their immigration status. The current conditions in Haiti, noted across a wide array of sources and first-hand accounts, including the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory, demonstrate that it is neither safe to return, nor reasonable to expect families not to desperately search for another option.
Yet the Supreme Court found a way. And while one might argue that their job is to interpret the law, not morality, they take a moral lens to interpreting the law. In Justice Alito’s opinion, he writes: “None of the cited statements by either the President or the Secretary was overtly racial, and in substance all expressed policy views that could rest on race-neutral justifications.”
The very fact that the President said Haiti is a “shithole country”; that Haitians “probably have AIDS” and are “destroying” Springfield, Ohio’s way of life; and eat cats and dogs — all derogatory lies — while not saying the same thing about white immigrants, is the definition of racism. In confirming his “shithole countries” comment, Trump even doubled down his racism. “We had a meeting, and I say, 'Why is it we only take people from shithole countries, right? Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few? Let us have a few from Denmark. Do you mind sending us a few people? Do you mind? Send us some nice people. Do you mind? But we always take people from Somalia, places that are a disaster, right? Filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.’”
If you don’t want to see racism, you won’t see it. That doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Today, as Haitian-Ohioans figure out what to do next, please continue to support the Haitian Support Center in Springfield and other Haitian-serving organizations in Columbus, Lima, and around the state. Find more information on the Springfield Spotlight on our resource website, OhioIsHome.org.
