The Word of Life Center, a nondenominational church in Salisbury, Maryland, that serves as a community hub for Haitians, has experienced significant disruption following the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals. Church leadership reported that Sunday service attendance fell by more than half, with many community members avoiding public spaces due to concerns about immigration enforcement actions.
Approximately 350,000 Haitians who held TPS have lost their legal work authorization. In Salisbury, where roughly 10% of the city’s 33,000 residents are Haitian, many individuals worked in agriculture, caregiving, and poultry processing. The community now faces difficult circumstances: attempting to remain in the United States without legal status while working, or returning to Haiti amid gang violence and economic hardship. Church leadership and community members have publicly expressed concerns about these options, with some describing the situation as dire.
According to advocates and attorneys, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is employing various enforcement tactics, including requiring individuals to report to agency offices for ankle monitoring and restricting travel to a 75-mile radius from their home address. Reports have surfaced of arrests occurring at routine public locations such as gas stations and supermarkets. Local support organizations documented over a dozen recent arrests among immigrant community members.
The TPS termination faced legal challenges, but the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the government in June, allowing the program to end. A federal judge subsequently lifted a stay blocking the termination. Church activities including English classes and community events have been canceled as residents limit their movements. Community advocates and leaders have appealed to policymakers, urging reconsideration of enforcement policies affecting individuals who had been working and residing legally in the country.
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