Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, turn to faith amid deportation fears

Springfield, Ohio (AP) – At the end of his Sunday Service, the pastor of the first church of Haiti Angeli Basharat Springfield, OhioHe told usher and musicians to make a circle around him when he was tied to the knees, Haiti and the United States.

Many people had received his blessings and heard how to deal with federal agents in the form of a crackdown on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Other parties stayed out of the house with fear and growing uncertainty.

Rio. Reginald Silesx, reflecting his last prayer, said, “I told God to protect his people.” “I especially prayed for the Haitian community, and I also prayed for the United States, because Trump is our president. As a church, it is our responsibility to pray for it. Because they are our political leaders right now.

Some of the Springfield estimates are seeking peace and divine intervention in their churches or in shops selling spiritual products. Community leaders say many people are confused by fears that Trump will end the term or temporary secure status program, which is why he remains legally in the United States.

“The community is nervous.” Springfield’s Haiti Community Help and Support Leader, Wares Dorinville, said. “They look at the arrests on TV in other parts of the country and they do not know what is going to happen.”

Last year, Trump had falsely accused Haits in the Springfield of eating his neighbor’s cats and dogs. False rumors raised the fear of most of the white, blue collar city of about 59 59,000 and the fear of immigrants’ feelings.

In weeks after their comments, houses of schools, government buildings and selected officials were targeted Dozens of bomb blasts.

“Earlier, we had a different kind of fear – it was a fear of retaliation, whether it was very right, proud boy,” a Haiti community leader and a religious shop in Hatin, Melkan Botanica owner Jacob Pain said. Spiritual and natural healing products.

“Now, there is fear of deportation. This prevents many people from going out and because of this a lot of people have left, “he said, pointing to a busy trading plaza, where his business is located and now it is normal. Was more calm.

In the Springfield, the concerns of the migration of clergy and other members of the community have been shared by many belief leaders across the country. In several cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, interfaith groups are discussing that their communities in their communities to provide security and assistance to immigrants, including non -documentary.

During his first administration, Trump used in a two -way manner Obscene To ask why the United States will accept the immigrants of Haiti and “Shithol countries” in Africa. His 2024 campaign focused heavily on illegal immigration, which is often referred to in his speeches in crimes committed by immigrants.

Under the TPS program, thousands of temporary Haitian immigrants have landed in the Spring Field in recent years, as their home country has paved the way. Violent groups rule the streets.

“Everything changed because Trump is the president. People are still scared. Most are living in their homes – they don’t want to go out, “said Roman Perry, 41, who settled in 2020 after escaping violence in his native Haiti in the Springfield under the TPS program.

“I love my country, but you can’t stay there. It is terrible right now,” Perry said, who works in a famous Haitian restaurant in Spring Field. “So where do you go?”

Last year, her 8 -year -old daughter became ill at midnight. Gun shots rang in his neighborhood in the capital of Port and Prince, and his mother felt that it was very dangerous to take her to the hospital. She died in the morning in front of the hospital entrance. Perry could not get timely permit to return for his funeral.

“Sometimes, life is difficult,” he said at work intervals.

TPS, which allows him and thousands of others to remain legally in the Springfield, expires on February 2026. He still hopes that Trump will keep the violence in Haiti and renew it.

“Think about the Haiti because Haiti is not yet returning,” he said. “God, talk to Mr. Trump and do something for the Haits.”

Haiti’s interim presidential council president echoed the concerns of immigrants. Freeze relief programs, The refugees for Haiti will be “devastating” refugees who deport migrants.

Leslie Waltier This comment was made in an interview with the Associated Press in Rome on Saturday after meeting Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Pontaf and Valtier discussed thisA serious situation in Haiti Where groups have killed civilians and they work fully with immunity in the Caribbean nation. According to Voltaire, half of Haiti’s 11.4 million people are already hungry, and the loss of humanitarian aid will dramatically worsen the situation.

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Associated Press Religious Coverage helps via AP Cooperation With our conversation, with the financing of Lily Endowment Inc., the AP is fully responsible for this content.

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