Faith Groups Rally as 'Sanctuary People' for Haitian Neighbors

When hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants learned their protected status could end, communities across Ohio responded with an outpouring of support that's redefining what it means to be a neighbor.

Around 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status face uncertainty after recent policy changes. But in cities like Springfield and Columbus, faith groups and residents aren't waiting to see what happens next.

Ohio's Catholic bishops issued statements of solidarity with Haitian communities. Springfield residents organized prayer vigils, rallies, food drives, and donations for families suddenly facing an unknown future.

These aren't isolated acts of kindness. They're part of a growing movement researcher Sarah Dye calls "sanctuary people," where everyday citizens commit to standing with vulnerable neighbors.

The term comes from activist Ruben Castilla Herrera, who before his death in 2019 urged people to see immigrant support as part of a larger web of compassion. He believed creating safety for one another, regardless of circumstance, made entire communities stronger.

That vision has taken root across Ohio. When more than 200 Puerto Rican families arrived in Lorain after Hurricane Maria, Sacred Heart Chapel and El Centro de Servicios Sociales helped secure housing, jobs, language instruction, and school enrollment.

After a 2018 immigration raid at an Ohio garden center, young people formed Los Niños de Corsos to support affected families. The following year, they drove to Mississippi with supplies when 680 workers were detained at a poultry plant.

Springfield's Haitian community knows this support firsthand. After enduring harassment and bomb threats during the 2024 election cycle, they've watched neighbors step forward with tangible help.

Groups like G92 and Springfield Neighbors United center their work on "love your neighbor values." They've turned faith into action, offering translation services, legal guidance, and simple companionship during anxious times.

The Ripple Effect

This expanded idea of sanctuary is spreading beyond Ohio. Pope Leo XIV emphasized accompaniment during his recent visit to Lampedusa, urging people to prioritize closeness with those who are suffering over intellectual debate.

The concept has deep roots in Catholic social teaching and Archbishop Óscar Romero's work with El Salvador's rural poor during the 1980s civil war. Today, both faith-based and secular activists embrace accompaniment as central to their work.

One powerful example is Edith Espinal, who faced deportation in 2017 and lived at Columbus Mennonite Church for more than three years. Sanctuary people supported her family throughout, and in 2021 she was granted permission to return home.

These stories share a common thread: ordinary people choosing to be present during someone else's hardest moments. They offer practical help while sending a simple message: you are not alone.

As Haitian families navigate the coming months, sanctuary people across Ohio continue organizing, donating, and showing up. Their actions prove that compassion can flourish even when policies create fear, and that community strength grows when neighbors choose to care for one another.