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Springfield, Ohio — Ketlie Moise fled from the violence that engulfed her homeland of Haiti, seeking solace and a piece of the American dream in Springfield, Ohio.
“I stay here,” Moise shared in an interview with CBS News. “I work two jobs to sustain my business. That’s why I don’t go back to Haiti.”
After years of saving, Moise recently fulfilled her dream by opening a restaurant. She is among the thousands of Haitian migrants who are establishing their lives in Springfield, a community that now finds itself in a precarious position as the Trump administration prepares to address immigration issues. City estimates suggest that between 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians call Springfield home, according to local reports.
Springfield gained national attention during President-elect Donald Trump’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10, where Trump made unfounded claims regarding the Haitian community. Local authorities have countered these statements, asserting that there are no credible sources to support such allegations.
Trump has positioned mass deportations as a central focus of his presidential platform.
“We’re going to have the largest deportation in the history of our country, and we’re going to start with Springfield and Aurora,” Trump stated on September 13, suggesting that Aurora, Colorado, also faced scrutiny.
In his latest announcements, Trump revealed plans to appoint Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as his “border czar” to oversee these efforts.
Moise, along with many other Haitians in Springfield, is legally protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that shields individuals fleeing unrest or natural disasters from deportation. However, this program is at risk, as Trump has indicated intentions to abolish it.
Moise shared that several friends and colleagues have already left Springfield, seeking stability elsewhere.
Tragedy struck Moise’s family back in Haiti, as she learned of her mother’s violent death during a robbery at their family business. “I’m scared because my business in Haiti was bombed, and I lost my mom,” she recounted. “If I get deported back to Haiti, I will not survive; I will be dead.”
Her own daughter has also made the difficult choice to leave Springfield. When her daughter expressed a desire to go, Moise contemplated joining her.
“Yes, I keep thinking about that. I don’t know where I am going to go, but I keep thinking about that,” Moise admitted.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding her future and her restaurant, Moise’s faith drives her resilience to remain in Springfield and pursue her dreams. “We’re hoping that everything works out the way it’s supposed to work out,” she said. “God has a way of working everything out.”
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