ICE Out of Ohio Message Guidance

ICE Out of Springfield

Updated 8.26.26

Share this using: IceOutOH.com

ICE in Springfield (background)

Now that the MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court allowed Trump to end temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians, ICE is flooding into Springfield. So far, 29 Haitian immigrants have been detained. More than two dozen have been booked into Butler County Jail. Springfield residents report ICE stationed outside Haitian Churches, outside schools, and near Haitian owned businesses. ICE watchers report seeing ICE agents run reporters off the road and being confronted by agents at their homes.

Ohio is better off with Haitian immigrants. They have enriched our communities with their culture, revitalized the local economy, and beautified neighborhoods. Use the following message guidance to defend our Haitian neighbors and hold accountable the politicians who allowed them to be targeted, kidnaped and ripped out of our communities.

ACCOUNTABILITY NARRATIVE

Haitian immigrants bravely fled violence to start new lives in Ohio. They are our friends, neighbors and coworkers. Trump and [name politician/his MAGA cronies] want us to point the fingers at Haitians so we won’t blame them for taking away our health care, jacking up our bills, and defunding our schools to make their billionaire backers even richer. They’re using ICE agents to terrorize our communities because they want us all too afraid to stand against this regime of bullies for billionaires. When we bravely stand with our Haitian neighbors we can make all our communities safe and free. It’s up to we the people to hold the [MAGA politicians/name politicians] who enable Trump’s terror accountable. Let’s tell them to keep their Hands off our Ohio neighbors.

Sample talking points

Our Haitian neighbors are Ohioans – just like the rest of us. They’re raising families, running businesses, and revitalizing neighborhoods. We won't stand by while MAGA politicians use ICE to tear our communities apart. We will hold them accountable.

While this cowardly president peddles lies to make us fear each other, Ohioans continue to bravely show up to protect our neighbors, our families, and our futures.

As Ohioans, we value our freedoms and know it takes courage to stand up for our loved ones. We won’t let this regime of bullying politicians and corporate cowards divide us and abduct our neighbors. Hands Off Our Ohio Neighbors.

[MAGA politicians like XX] are allowing ICE to attack and abduct our Haitian friends and neighbors [or: “our families” depending on messenger], people brave enough to seek a better life, and assaulting the freedoms we all value.

Ohioans know we’re stronger together. We are united to protect all families who call Ohio/America home, no exceptions.

As Ohioans, we value our freedoms and know it takes courage to stand up for our loved ones. We won’t let this regime of bullying politicians and corporate cowards divide us and abduct our neighbors. Not here.

The regime is attacking and abducting our Haitian friends and neighbors [or: “our families” depending on messenger], people brave enough to seek a better life, and assaulting the freedoms we all value.

The regime is stripping us of our freedom to be safe and belong in our own home, hoping to turn us against each other based on where we were born or how we got here.

Families belong together. We live in one community, and here in Ohio, neighbors take care of each other.

Ohioans know that every child should grow up experiencing joy, play, and laughter. But, when ICE arrives in a community, every child suffers.

Our Haitian neighbors are Ohioans – just like the rest of us. They’re raising families, running businesses, and revitalizing neighborhoods. And we are going to do whatever we can to keep them at home where they belong.

Sample Narratives

Funding Fight Narrative: Americans across races, places, and parties value our freedoms – but Trump and MAGA are running a regime of bullies for the billionaires. Our leaders must refuse to finance MAGA’s war against Americans and block them from invading our cities, stealing our healthcare, and taking food from kids. It’s time to stand up and demand Congress end ICE abuse and make our communities safe and free.

ICE & Schools No child can learn when they’re afraid or hungry. The Trump regime of bullies for billionaires is robbing students and families of their right to an education. Trump’s ICE attack on students undermines every child’s freedom to learn in a safe environment without fear and intimidation. Forcing children out of our schools and into the shadows robs Ohio of their potential, talent, and immeasurable contributions to our communities. We’re coming together across our differences to demand that ICE stay out of Ohio schools and stop their violence in our classrooms. We want our families to be safe and whole – no exceptions.

Student walkouts: From big cities like [Cleveland/Columbus] to small towns like [x], students in high schools and universities across Ohio are demanding that ICE stop terrorizing their friends and disrupting their education. Every child in Ohio, regardless of their immigration status, is legally entitled to a public education. But ICE agents have even targeted schools where every child should be safe, welcomed and cared for – no exceptions. We’re standing with the students who are bravely demanding that ICE get out of Ohio.

Do / Don’t Guidance

Do	Don’t	Because
Do share content of Ohioans standing up for one another	Don’t focus only on the harms and horrors	We must build a shared sense of defiance and personal agency to create resistance. Our goal is empathy, not pity.
Do say “This endangers our families, our freedoms, and our futures.” “This is a direct threat to our lives.”	Don’t say “This will not make us safer.” “This does not help our security.”	Negating the opposition’s claims merely brings them top of mind. We must say what these actions DO, not what they are not.
Do present concrete action: remove ICE from communities	Don’t offer condemnation without a clear demand.	Giving a clear, constructive way to take action builds a sense of agency.
Do refer to the Supreme Court as the “Roberts Court” or make clear that the villains are the “MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court.”	Do not impugn the entire Supreme Court.	Referring to the Supreme Court as a whole provides cover to the corrupt Justices on that court. It is also a tacit condemnation of the three Justices who take their roles and oaths seriously.

Best Practices

Do not share information to raise panic, share for protection. Always give measures and recommendations.
Share images that empower us, not victimize us. We are all fighting for a better future. Show it.
Be respectful to the victims and their families. Only share a picture if it honors the person’s memory.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. A lot of organizations have been doing immigration work for a long time. Join them and uplift their content.
Don’t share information that hasn’t been verified or that you don’t know to be true.
Use solidarity messaging. Shared identities help people see themselves as part of the larger group standing against violence.

Geographic: “We protect our neighbors,” “In Ohio, we look out for each other”
Profession: “Teachers protect students,” “Clergy against violence”

Build agency and make a positive call to action. Fear and violence can make people feel disempowered. Show that we are in the majority and there are lots of ways to take action to build community resilience.
Use the SALUTE method when reporting ICE activity.

S - Size: Number of agents, officers, and vehicles present

A - Activity: What the agents are doing (e.g., questioning, arresting, searching)

L - Location: Precise address, intersection, or location

U - Unit(s)/Uniform: Agency patches (ICE, Police), clothing descriptions, or vehicle markings

T - Time: Exact date and time of observation

E - Equipment: Vehicles, weapons, tools (e.g., dogs, flashlights, restraints)

Resources

ICE and Protesting Best Practices

Organizations

Background [updated daily]

Research

MIOT Case/TPS

Last updated 7.27.26

The Miot Case (for background, not usage):

The MAGA justices of the Robert’s Court have made yet another terrible ruling that will unleash human suffering in communities across the nation. The Miot et al. v. Trump et al. decision allows President Trump to move forward with revoking the Temporary Protected Status of Haitian and Syrian immigrants who fled violence and upheaval in their home countries. The Trump administration officially ended TPS for Haitians and Syrians on July 27, 2026.

Haitian immigrants in Ohio

Central Ohio is home to 30,000 Haitians and Springfield is home to about 15,000 Haitians with temporary status, accounting for roughly 25% of the local population.

Haitians have already been targeted by Trump’s racist attacks. By ripping away their TPS status, the Roberts Court has placed a new target on their back. They now face an impossible choice: leave the communities that have become their homes and face violence at home, or stay put and risk kidnapping and imprisonment by ICE.

Ohio is better off with Haitian immigrants. They have enriched our communities with their culture, revitalized the local economy, and beautified neighborhoods. Use the following message guidance to defend our Haitian neighbors and protect them from being targeted, kidnaped and ripped out of their communities.

Core Message

In Ohio, we look out for each other. We want our cities and towns to be safe—to walk down the street, drop off our kids, or shop for groceries without fear. The Robert’s Court’s decision to allow Trump to revoke temporarily protected status for Haitians is just another rubber stamp of his cruel agenda. Trump has made Haitians a scapegoat because he wants us to blame them and not him and his billionaire backers for why it’s so hard for us to make ends meet and get ahead. And he wants to hold on to power by making us all afraid of the ICE agents he uses to terrorize immigrants. Our Haitian friends and neighbors bravely came to our state to start new lives; now it’s time we bravely stand with them against this hate and fear. We’re coming together to demand that ICE stay out of Ohio and stop the violence. We want our families to be safe and whole – no exceptions.

Miot Talking Points

The Roberts Court dolled out yet another rubber stamp decision to advance Trump’s cruel agenda for the bullies and the billionaires.
After six justices in robes signed off on abductions, hundreds of Ohioans rallied in Springfield. A wide coalition held hands and sang prayer and protest songs. That's what Ohio looks like when we refuse to be divided.
We need permanent protections for people who have come to Ohio seeking safety – Sen. Husted and Moreno must vote yes on SB 4814.
Even Republican Gov. Mike DeWine went on the record this week saying the Roberts court got this wrong: Haiti is too dangerous to return to and Ohio is better off with our Haitian neighbors here where they belong.

Narratives

Moreno/Husted/Congress TPS demands: Ohioans show up for each other. The Haitian immigrants who risked their lives to flee violence in their homeland have become our friends, neighbors and important members of our communities. But Trump has made them a scapegoat, hoping we will blame Haitians, not him and his billionaire backers for why it’s harder than ever to make ends meet. We need our Senators to reject Trump’s racist attacks on our fellow Ohioans and keep our communities whole.

DeWine demands: Ohioans are united in standing up against the heartlessness and cruelty of the Trump administration by supporting and caring for our neighbors. Governor DeWine has supported our Haitian communities and Springfield before. We need him now to stand up for us and stop these attacks on our freedoms and our communities, instead of folding to Trump and MAGA extremists.