Two pastors from divergent backgrounds have joined forces in Springfield, Ohio, to support Haitian migrants facing heightened fears of deportation under the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement. Their collaboration, rooted in shared faith, has become a focal point for community solidarity amid national controversy.
Pastor Reginald Silencieux of the First Haitian Evangelical Church grew up in rural Haiti amid poverty and violence, experiences he says forged his perseverance and sense of community. Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church, a self-described “blue-collar farm kid” from Michigan, frames support for immigrants as central to his Christian belief. “Caring for immigrants and for refugees—it’s not just an add-on to my faith, it’s the center of my faith,” Ruby stated.
Their united mission was publicly tested in 2024 when former President Donald Trump falsely claimed Haitians in Springfield were eating neighbors’ pets. Both pastors publicly defied the rhetoric. Ruby urged his congregation to shift focus, telling them, “We represent God. Focus.” Silencieux noted that such falsehoods exacerbate fears within an already vulnerable population.
Ruby envisions a lasting Haitian presence in Springfield, pointing to the city’s history of immigration-driven revitalization. “We’ve grown for the first time in half a century,” he said, attributing part of that growth to new immigrant communities. Silencieux echoed this optimism, drawing on the resilience he cultivated in Haiti.
This local advocacy unfolds against a backdrop of profound crisis in Haiti. The International Organization for Migration reports that more than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced this year alone due to escalating gang violence and political instability—the highest displacement figure on record for the nation. This widespread insecurity continues to drive migration to places like Springfield.
The pastors’ work highlights how faith leaders are navigating the intersection of national immigration policy, local community dynamics, and humanitarian concern. Their stance offers a counter-narrative to anti-immigrant sentiment, emphasizing faith-based welcome in a city that has recently transformed through immigration. As federal enforcement priorities shift, their efforts may signal both the challenges and potential for grassroots refugee support in American communities.
