Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, a state that voted for President Donald Trump, has faced intense online criticism after publicly opposing Trump's order to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants. DeWine's state is home to an estimated 30,000 Haitian TPS holders. In a CBS interview, he argued against deporting them, stating, 'Haiti is hell today. So you'd be sending people… back to hell.' He added that most Haitians would not voluntarily return and instead seek work elsewhere to support their families.
Online critics, including conservative commentators, questioned DeWine's stance, suggesting that Haiti's conditions are partly due to its own citizens. Sean Davis of The Federalist asked, 'What makes Haiti hellish? Is it… the Haitians?' while The Blaze's Logan Hall and internet personality Larry Sanger also raised similar points. Meanwhile, some media figures, like comedian Conan O'Brien, defended Haiti's natural beauty, contrasting it with Trump's past remarks calling it a 's---hole' country.
The Supreme Court's recent decision to end TPS protections for Haitians and Syrians has further intensified the debate. DeWine's comments come amid broader discussions about immigration policy and the future of TPS recipients in the U.S.