Republicans remind Sherrod Brown, anti-ICE activists about Haitians’ temporary status
Leading up to a judge’s ruling that paused the federal government’s plans to end Temporary Protected Status of more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants, including roughly 30,000 in Central Ohio, conservatives and leftists clashed once again.
They resorted to their well-established partisan sides, either defending or opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, potentially returning to Ohio.
Supreme Court, here we come.
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… https://t.co/wejySOSaXJ
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) February 3, 2026
The recent debate and protests began after Gov. Mike DeWine announced last week that Ohio officials are preparing for the potential return of ICE to the state to deport Haitians right after they lose their legal status.
Sherrod Brown, who is currently running to replace U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, released a statement on Jan. 30, in which he said that Ohioans are “concerned about their Haitian neighbors and about the economic impact the expiration of TPS for Haitian Americans will have on their communities.”
“That’s why I’m calling on the Administration to extend TPS for Ohio’s Haitian community now. Haitian Americans don’t have a safe place to return to in Haiti, and our communities across Ohio depend on them to help our local economy thrive,” he wrote. “I’m calling on Governor Mike DeWine and Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno to put Ohio communities first and join my call to extend TPS for the Haitian community.”
Several conservatives from Ohio criticized Brown by reminding him about the fact that Haitians were allowed to stay in the United States only temporarily.
“You still don’t get it, do you, @SherrodBrown? Voters are sick of liberal Democrats like you selling out American workers for cheap migrant labor every time. That’s why you got fired!” U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, wrote on X. “This isn’t hard: Temporary Protected Status was always TEMPORARY. Now it’s time to go home.”
You still don’t get it, do you @SherrodBrown? Voters are sick of liberal Democrats like you selling out American workers for cheap migrant labor every time. That’s why you got fired!
This isn’t hard: Temporary Protected Status was always TEMPORARY. Now it’s time to go home. https://t.co/8H2szYMNd8
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) January 30, 2026
Moreno also told the Statehouse News Bureau that ICE should not even go back to ICE because he thinks that Haitians should leave the country voluntarily.
“Temporary Protected Status was going to end,” he said. “It was never intended to be permanent. It was always temporary. Everybody always knew the date, so we shouldn’t have to surge a force in there, to forcibly deport people who knew for a long time that they had to do that on their own.”
State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania-Twp., also criticized Brown, posting on X that Trump won Clark County, where Springfield is located, “with 65% of the vote in 2024.”
“The voters sent a message that they’re done with mass immigration,” he wrote.
Temporary Protected Status is supposed to be exactly that… TEMPORARY.
President Trump won Clark County, home of Springfield, with 65% of the vote in 2024.
The voters sent a message that they're done with mass immigration. https://t.co/rvhs6pQEIC
— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) January 31, 2026
Ohio lawyer Meheek Cooke also responded to Brown, stating that Democrats “redefine borders, crime, and reality,” adding that people still need to follow the law.
“Ohio voters see it. This election is a referendum on your lawlessness,” she wrote on X.
🚨 Hey @SenSherrodBrown —
Haitians were granted limited stay, not permanent residences “Temporary” means you go home. Period.
Your party redefines borders, crime, and reality, but the law is still the law.
Ohio voters see it. This election is a referendum on your lawlessness. https://t.co/9WhVgRYOXY
— Mehek Cooke🇺🇸 (@MehekCooke) January 31, 2026
Even though Dewine said that it is not a good idea to deport Haitians back to their home country because it is a very dangerous place controlled by gangs, he pointed out that, at the end of the day, it is “not his decision,” according to the Statehouse News Bureau.
Clark County Police also took a neutral stance, saying that the officers will neither help nor prevent ICE from deporting Haitians, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Last week, protesters in Columbus and Cleveland protested ICE on the streets, with businesses in both cities supporting them.
Columbus politicians, including Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, also announced that they are looking for different ways to hold ICE agents accountable for their activity.
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance also shared “six ways to help Haitian-Ohioans today” with its supporters.
Meanwhile, anti-ICE people criticized the U.S. government for wanting to send Haitians back to their home country while advising American citizens not to visit it because it is too dangerous.
