The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun summoning Haitian immigrants in Ohio for check-in appointments, where many are being fitted with ankle monitors as part of an enforcement effort following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians. The move signals a shift in how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is managing these cases amid ongoing legal uncertainty.

According to advocates and local attorneys, approximately 50 Haitians with TPS in Springfield, Ohio, were called into ICE offices on Friday. They were reportedly detained briefly before being released under the condition of electronic monitoring, including travel restrictions limiting them to a 75-mile radius from their homes. This practice marks a departure from previous ICE operations, which often involved large-scale arrests; instead, this approach focuses on requiring immigrants to appear at secure facilities for appointments.

A Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the strategy of calling Haitians with TPS into ICE offices for these check-ins and said the appointments would be scheduled in stages. DHS has characterized TPS as a temporary measure that should not serve as a long-term amnesty, with a spokesperson emphasizing the agency’s position that protections are now ending.

The Supreme Court’s June ruling permitted the Trump administration to end TPS for about 350,000 Haitians, despite ongoing instability, violence, and humanitarian challenges in Haiti. DHS notified employers recently that TPS protections had officially ended on July 27, 2026. However, some lower courts have continued to block the termination, creating a legal limbo and confusion, as workers face mass layoffs and immigrants await final decisions on their status.

Created by Congress in 1990, TPS prevents the deportation of individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict or other extraordinary crises, providing legal work authorization for set periods, renewable by DHS. Haitians received TPS after the 2010 earthquake devastated their country. Advocates argue that many Haitians currently subjected to ankle monitoring and check-ins have ongoing asylum claims and no final deportation orders.

Immigration attorneys have expressed concern that ICE is using the ankle monitors more broadly than before, noting that historically the devices were reserved for individuals with criminal records or previous immigration violations. Legal representatives also report that ICE agents are encouraging voluntary departures by offering financial incentives for self-deportation.

Critics say this enforcement method aims to pressure Haitians to leave quietly rather than through more visible mass operations. Some community advocates fear this approach will destabilize immigrant communities, making it harder for families to organize and resist deportation efforts.

Senators Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) have criticized the administration’s actions, highlighting the danger to families and the detrimental impact on the U.S. labor force. They underscore the worsening conditions in Haiti and other countries losing TPS protections.

Meanwhile, legal experts note tension between the Supreme Court’s ruling and lower court actions that have yet to fully authorize the program’s termination. DHS officials argue some judges are defying the Supreme Court, but assert that TPS protections for Haitians will ultimately end.

Advocates warn that the current enforcement practices, including electronic monitoring and frequent check-ins, represent a new phase in deportation policy that creates anxiety and uncertainty for Haitian immigrants. They emphasize that this shift could have lasting effects on the affected communities, particularly in cities like Springfield, Ohio, where many Haitians reside.