Stephen Miller claims Biden administration ‘illegally’ flew Haitians into Springfield. Haitians have been here for years. | Local

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller last week claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “Democrats illegally airlifted the Haitian migrants to Springfield in the months before President Trump took office.”

Miller wrote, “This may shock the media to hear but for 99.999% of its history there was not a Haitian diaspora in Springfield, Ohio.”

Miller, who also is a Homeland Security advisor, also recently told members of the press that the Biden administration flew in “vast” numbers of people from Haiti to the United States.

Miller said many Haitian immigrants are now “within the reach of the law” because of the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision late month that is expected to end temporary protected status for their island homeland.

“If you no longer have status in this country, you are supposed to be deported,” he said. “These are people who have only been here for a few months, who are receiving welfare, who have all their ties, all their social connections, all their family is back in their home country of Haiti and, of course, that’s where they should go.”

Haitians in Springfield

Springfield has been a popular destination for Haitian people for years, long before Trump was returned to office for a second term. Springfield has been a hot spot for Haitians with TPS.

Haiti originally received a TPS designation in 2010 after the Caribbean nation was hit by a devastating, 7.0-magnitude earthquake. The designation was extended multiple times. The Trump administration, during Trump’s first term in office, unsuccessfully tried to end Haiti’s TPS.

The Biden administration issued a new TPS designation for Haiti in 2021. The then-U.S. Homeland Security secretary said Haiti was dealing with rampant gang violence, human rights abuses and political and health crises. Chaos ensued after Haiti’s president was assassinated in July 2021.

Springfield saw two major waves of Haitian immigrants — one in 2021, and a second in 2023, Katie Kersh, an attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, previously told this news outlet.

Springfield’s then-assistant mayor, in the summer of 2023, estimated that the city’s Haitian population stood at between 5,000 and 10,000 people. Trump won reelection in the fall of 2024.

Without question, Springfield’s Haitian population dramatically increased within a fairly short window of time.

Back in the summer of 2018, about 2,200 people in Ohio had temporary protected status, including about 100 people from Haiti, says data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

By March 2025, about 26,490 individuals living in Ohio had TPS, says the Congressional Research Service, citing USCIS data. Local leaders, officials and community members say many of these TPS holders are from Haiti.

Some Haitian-born people who live in Ohio never obtained TPS.

The Springfield News-Sun has interviewed countless community members, faith leaders, business owners and Haitian immigrants about Springfield’s Haitian population. Many people said Haitian nationals were drawn to Springfield because of job opportunities, friend and family connections, a friendly and welcoming environment and other economic and social factors.

Springfield pastor Carl Ruby, who has been a vocal supporter of the city’s immigrant population, said Miller’s comment are not surprising.

“Instead of berating Midwestern cities like Springfield Miller should remember that 99.999% of us are descendants of immigrants who came for the same reasons that Haitian and other immigrant groups come today,” Ruby said. “Miller’s comments are an affront to people of faith. Scripture could not be clearer in its charge to live and welcome immigrants. Jesus himself said that welcoming strangers, the first century term for foreigners, was a mark of people who were part of the Kingdom of Heaven. He also cursed those who fail to welcome immigrants.”

Americans want secure borders and the removal of violent offenders, but people also know that immigrants strengthen towns, revive neighborhoods, grow local economies, stabilize the population and fill critical workforce gaps, he said.

Marisa Nahem, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party, said in a statement, “Instead of spending their time spreading baseless conspiracies and hateful rhetoric about Haitian Ohioans in Springfield, the Trump Administration should focus on actually supporting Ohio families at a time when in every corner of our state Ohioans are struggling in the face of sky-high costs.”

Haitians have been part of the Springfield community for longer than 0.001% of the city’s history. Springfield was founded in 1801, making it 225 years old. Many Haitians have lived here for at least several years.

With Haiti’s TPS coming to an end, Miller’s comments have added more fuel to the speculation that the Trump administration will try to launch aggressive immigration enforcement activities in Springfield.