**Haitians in Springfield Seek Safety Amid Deportation Fears Following Trump's Victory**

In a small office tucked behind a Haitian grocery store on South Limestone Street in Springfield, Margery Koveleski has long assisted local Haitians in navigating complex bureaucratic challenges to ease their lives in the Ohio city. However, Koveleski, whose family hails from Haiti, has recently observed a significant shift—people are now approaching her for help to leave Springfield.

"Some individuals lack credit cards or internet access, and they need assistance buying bus or plane tickets, so we help them book flights," Koveleski recently shared. The exodus comes in the wake of Donald Trump's victory in the 5 November presidential election, which has sparked fears among Springfield's Haitian community about being rounded up and deported.

Community figures, like Jacob Payen, a co-founder of the Haitian Community Alliance, note that the impact of Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric is palpable. "People are fully aware of the election result, and that is why they are leaving; they are afraid of a mass deportation," Payen said. He reported that several of his clients have moved to other states such as New Jersey, Boston, and even Canada to avoid potential deportations.

The local economy and businesses owned by Haitians are also feeling the strain. Koveleski mentioned that the owner of a local store is contemplating relocating to New York or Chicago as his business has significantly dropped. Trump's threat to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that allows many Haitians to live and work legally in the U.S. has exacerbated these fears. TPS has been invaluable for about 300,000 Haitians fleeing violence and political instability in their home country, but Trump's administration had already seen legal battles over terminating the program.

Recent violence in Haiti, with incidents like gunfire hitting a commercial airplane over Port-au-Prince, further complicates the return for those contemplating leaving the U.S. Legal experts like Katie Kersh of Advocates for Basic Legal Equality believe that the prospects of immediate deportations starting from 20 January are slim due to legal procedures and the strain it would place on immigration courts.

Despite fears and uncertainties, some argue that ending TPS might intensify issues of undocumented immigration. TPS provides employment authorization and residency rights, and eliminating it could remove these protections without necessarily leading to immediate deportations.

Springfield's local economy, especially industries like produce packaging and machining, depends heavily on Haitian labor. Their departure could have significant financial repercussions on the city. As Payen points out, if these individuals leave, the taxes and economic contributions they make will also disappear, posing a severe blow to the community.

Curiously, within this vibrant Haitian community, there is a lingering distrust of the Democratic Party, amplified by grievances related to the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts led by the Clinton Foundation in 2010. This resentment, coupled with current uncertainties, has left many Haitian residents in Springfield in a state of flux, seeking refuge and safety wherever they can find it.