by Alexei Laushkin

In March, as the sun broke out over a winter’s day on the U.S. Capitol, the steps on the East Front of the building became a place of prayer, protest, and profound witness. Surrounded by fellow advocates from the Christian Defense Coalition and others who have committed themselves to this long and difficult fight, we gathered to take a stand. In a moment when our government had announced its intent to prematurely strip Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from hundreds of thousands of Haitian families, we held up a banner that read, “Protect the Haitian Community!”

For us at Kingdom Mission Society, this is not just an immigration issue; it is a human dignity issue. It is a matter of faith and a fundamental question about who we are as a nation.

The administration’s decision to revoke TPS status for the Haitian community on August 3, 2025—months ahead of the previously set expiration date of February 2026—was a unconscionable act. It created a deep sense of anxiety and fear for families who have been living and working here legally for years. But just as we were gathered in Washington to make our plea, a federal judge in New York, Brian Cogan, offered a moment of grace. He ruled against the administration’s attempt to illegally shorten TPS for Haitians, blocking a plan that would have left over half a million immigrants vulnerable to deportation.

This legal victory is a powerful reminder that our fight is not in vain, and that a just cause can prevail in the courts.

This is the reality we face. The fight is far from over. This is why our prayer vigil and protest were so crucial. We must continue to be a voice for the vulnerable, reminding our nation’s leaders of core moral values.

During our event, Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, powerfully articulated the moral case for TPS. He shared his experience with the vibrant Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, where families have settled, become an integral part of the local economy, and found a home. Rev. Mahoney reminded us that to deport these families back to a country wracked by gang violence and political instability is to literally put “a target on their backs.”

These are not abstract statistics; they are our neighbors, coworkers, and community members. As Ohio’s Republican Governor DeWine has said of the Haitians in Springfield, “What the companies tell us is that they are very good workers. They’re very happy to have them there, and frankly, that’s helped the economy.”

These families are not a burden. They are contributors. They are a blessing. They are, as I said during the press conference, “hardworking, faith-filled, freedom loving people.” Their presence enriches our country. And to argue otherwise is a rejection of the economic and social realities on the ground. The data confirms this: Haitian TPS holders contribute billions to our economy and pay significant taxes annually. They are essential to industries like healthcare, construction, and hospitality.

The theological foundation for our position is unshakeable. As Rev. Mahoney eloquently stated, we are called to a higher standard. He pointed to Leviticus 19:34, which tells us to “treat immigrants as if they were native born and love them as ourselves.” This is a direct command, not a suggestion. It is rooted in our own history as a people who were once strangers in a foreign land.

The moral call is not just a Christian one, but a deeply American one. Rev. Mahoney also invoked the words of our first president, George Washington, who declared that “the bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respected Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions.”

This is the America we believe in—an America that embraces the oppressed, that offers safety and refuge. We must not abandon these core principles for partisan politics. Especially when flights to Port-au-Prince are currently not allowed due to gang violence.

We must hold our elected officials accountable and urge them to:

• Reject political attacks that scapegoat immigrants for partisan agendas.

The dignity of our Haitian brothers and sisters is non-negotiable. With faith, advocacy, and a commitment to justice, we will continue to organize, educate, and fight alongside them.