Findlay braces for possible ICE enforcement

FINDLAY — With Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants set to expire today, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn said the city has still not received any guidance from federal authorities on what immigration enforcement, if any, will occur locally. In a statement issued Monday, Muryn said she continues to reach out for information but has not been advised of any planned federal presence in Findlay. She emphasized that public safety remains the city's top priority. Muryn said the Findlay Police Department will not participate in federal immigration enforcement. However, if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to a home or business, residents are encouraged to call 911 so a Findlay police officer can respond to verify credentials and ensure the legal rights of all involved are protected. Police will neither participate in nor impede federal law enforcement activity, she said. Muryn also addressed the public protests to the end of TPS, noting that residents have a First Amendment right to advocate and voice their concerns. She cautioned, however, that protest activity that is violent, destructive or interferes with law enforcement will not be tolerated. The expiration of TPS is expected to affect only a portion of the city's immigrant population, Muryn said. While some Haitian immigrants may lose work authorization when protections lapse, others may have separate legal pathways to remain in the United States, including asylum claims or work visas that extend beyond the deadline. "Just because someone is an immigrant does not mean that they do not have a legal right to be in the United States," Muryn said, urging residents to continue treating all neighbors with kindness and respect. Temporary Protected Status allows immigrants from designated countries to live and work legally in the United States when conditions in their home countries make it unsafe for them to return. Haitian immigrants in Findlay have relied on TPS for legal status and employment authorization for several years. Local advocates have long warned the end of TPS could have wide-ranging impacts on families, employers, and social service agencies. When the federal government first announced plans to end TPS for Haitians in early 2025, immigration attorneys urged families to prepare for possible enforcement once protections expired, encouraging emergency planning and legal consultations. At that time, Findlay and Hancock County were home to an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 Haitian immigrants, many employed through regional staffing agencies. Legal aid organizations cautioned that resources in Northwest and WestCentral Ohio were already stretched thin, limiting access to immigration assistance for low-income families.