The Word of Life Center in Salisbury, Maryland, once a bustling hub for the Haitian community, is now facing difficult times. Recent events like bridal showers and yard-sale barbecues have been canceled, along with English-language classes. Attendance at the church has plummeted, with Sunday services drawing less than half the usual crowd. Pastor Roosevelt Toussaint attributed this to fear among the community, following the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over a million immigrants from various countries. Particularly affected are around 350,000 Haitians who have resided and worked in the U.S. legally.
In Salisbury, about 10% of the 33,000 residents are Haitian. Many are employed as farmworkers, caregivers, and in poultry plants, the region’s economic backbone. With TPS ending, these individuals face tough choices, such as seeking underground work under the constant threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or returning to Haiti, a country plagued by violence and poverty.
Pastor’s Plea for Compassion
Pastor Toussaint, leading the church since 1995, expressed hope for compassion from President Donald Trump. He emphasized that his congregation has contributed positively to the U.S. economy. During a recent service, he encouraged his followers to remain steadfast, assuring them that their fears would not last.
Some community members attended the service in solidarity with those losing TPS. Marjorie Estimé, a U.S. citizen, voiced her opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies, urging for ICE operations to cease to allow Haitians to continue their work.
An Uncertain Future
Advocates report ICE employing tactics such as ankle bracelets and travel restrictions of no more than 75 miles from home. The end of TPS led to confusion and fear, with work permits not extended. Reports of arrests at local venues spread through social media.
Marie D. Fouché, of Safe Harbor Circles, described the situation as leaving people in limbo. She noted arrests of individuals who were simply running errands, emphasizing the disruption to families and communities.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions, saying TPS was never intended to be permanent. However, Haitians had been beneficiaries of TPS since 2010, following a devastating earthquake. Despite claims of improvement in Haiti, violence and poverty remain widespread.
Impact on Local Lives
Leila Borrero Krouse, an immigration specialist, spoke of the struggles faced by immigrants she works with, often taking jobs others do not want. Meanwhile, Patricia Grace Louis-Jacques, a nursing student, shared her fears for friends and family affected by TPS’s end.
The story of a Honduran woman, living in constant fear since TPS for her nationality was rescinded, highlighted the personal toll of these policies. She described a life restricted to avoid detection, resorting to hiding in her own home.