GOP governor warns Trump over Haiti TPS push, calls it "a mistake"

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, warned Sunday that plans to deport Haitians from the United States with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would be "a mistake,” breaking with the Trump administration's immigration strategy following a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, the governor argued that removing the protections would send migrants back to dangerous conditions and disrupt American industries that rely on their labor, including in his home state where cities like Springfield have seen a significant influx of Haitian migrants in recent years. The issue has become a flashpoint within Ohio politics, with Republican Senator Bernie Moreno arguing the influx has strained local resources and driven up housing costs in Springfield.

DeWine said it is not in the nation's interest to “yank them out,” describing TPS holders as “people who are working every single day, who are supporting a family, who are buying houses, fixing up old houses, starting businesses, and then put deep roots in this country and really are contributing.” Moreno, posting on X on Sunday, wrote, “Congress has spoken. The President has spoken. The Supreme Court has spoken. Enough,” framing the court’s decision as backing tougher enforcement.

His comments come days after the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the administration can move forward with ending TPS for hundreds of thousands of migrants, including those from Haiti and Syria. The decision clears the legal pathway for the federal government to alter their legal status and begin the removal process.

Newsweek reached out to the White House on Sunday.

DeWine highlighted the volatile conditions in Haiti, arguing that returning migrants to the country is currently untenable.

“You cannot fly into Port-au-Prince today,” DeWine said, noting ongoing commercial airline restrictions fueled by security threats. He pointed to escalating gang violence and widespread political instability that have made daily life dangerous.

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, also a Republican, voiced similar concerns in a post on X on Sunday, calling Haiti a "country in chaos," adding, "sending people back there with their families to me is just crazy." He called on Congress to extend TPS.

The situation underscores the central rationale behind TPS, a program created by Congress in 1990 to allow foreign nationals to remain and work legally in the U.S. when armed conflict, natural disasters, or extraordinary conditions prevent safe return. The U.S. State Department maintains its highest travel advisory warning for Haiti, urging Americans not to travel there due to kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest.

The court’s decision has altered the immigration landscape, ruling that federal law largely bars judges from reviewing executive branch decisions to terminate TPS.

The ruling effectively ends lower-court injunctions that had blocked the administration's policy, leaving more than 350,000 Haitians and thousands of Syrians vulnerable to losing their legal status.

The legal challenge played out alongside a fierce political debate, which included President Donald Trump’s false 2024 campaign claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating household pets. While those remarks were raised by challengers in court, the conservative majority ruled that opponents were unlikely to prove the policy termination was driven by racial bias.

Legal analysts say the decision restricts the ability of immigrant advocacy groups to challenge future TPS terminations, shifting the battleground from federal courts to policymakers. The ruling could ultimately affect more than 1 million migrants from various countries, reinforcing the temporary legal definition of the program.

Also appearing on State of the Union on Sunday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin outlined the administration's next steps now that the legal barriers have been reduced.

Mullin signaled that migrants currently under TPS will be expected to either secure alternative legal pathways or prepare to depart the country.

“They should either apply for permanent status or we’ll help you get back to your country,” he said.

He added that the government is prepared to provide financial incentives to encourage voluntary departures.

“We will actually give you a plane ticket plus roughly $2,100 to help you reestablish when you get there,” Mullin said. “But temporary status…is not permanent status.”

DHS has confirmed similar programs offering payments and travel assistance to migrants who choose to leave voluntarily, part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on temporary protections.

Losing TPS does not trigger immediate, automatic deportation, but it strips recipients of their work authorization. Over time, individuals who do not adjust their status face the risk of detention and formal removal proceedings. For Haitians, TPS protections have been repeatedly extended by consecutive administrations following a catastrophic 2010 earthquake and subsequent humanitarian crises.

DeWine stressed that the economic fallout of ending the program would be felt by U.S. employers, particularly in sectors facing severe labor shortages.

“It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad,” DeWine said, pointing to the healthcare and elder care industries. He also noted that manufacturing and food production sectors rely heavily on the demographic.

In parts of Ohio that have struggled with decades of industrial decline, local officials say the influx of Haitian workers has helped stabilize local businesses, fill vacant housing, and meet workforce demands. Officials in Springfield have previously warned that a sudden removal of these workers could disrupt municipal services and local supply chains. Moreno, however, has pointed to rising housing costs in the city as evidence the influx is putting pressure on local communities. He also alleged increased strain on public services and infrastructure.

The public disagreement underscores an emerging divide within the Republican Party between federal policymakers focused on strict enforcement and state executives managing local economic realities. Moreno’s comments reflect a harder-line faction arguing the policy has burdened small communities, in direct contrast with DeWine’s emphasis on economic contributions and workforce needs.

While DeWine stopped short of directly criticizing the president, his remarks signaled a sharp divergence on the issue.

“I would hope the Trump administration would reconsider what they are doing,” DeWine said.

Contact Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray.