In Salisbury, Maryland, members of the Haitian community are living with a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty due to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Around 100 community members gathered at a local church to call for changes in immigration enforcement, sharing stories of how the intensified actions have impacted their daily lives.

Venue, a Haitian immigrant mother whose full name is being withheld for her safety, spoke about the constant vigilance required when leaving home. "Coming out, going out the house, you always just have to be careful," her son stated. "We have to take different routes. Take routes where you know police might not be around." This sentiment reflects a broader unease within the community, where social media often serves as a rapid alert system for immigration enforcement activity.

The recent actions by ICE follow the Trump administration's termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 13 countries in April, a program that had provided a haven for individuals from nations deemed too unstable for return due to crises like war or natural disasters. The Pew Research Center estimates that over 330,000 Haitian migrants have lost this protection, making them vulnerable to raids and deportation.

This situation is compounded by escalating violence in Haiti. A second deportation flight carrying Haitian migrants, including families and potentially U.S.-born children, landed in Haiti on Thursday. Haitian officials reported that at least 47 people were killed and over 50 kidnapped in Haiti during the same week. Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, condemned the U.S. policy, stating, "The U.S. Embassy in Haiti said they condemn the acts of violence, yet the U.S. is VIOLENTLY sending children to these very conditions."

Local immigration lawyer Kenson Raymond described the atmosphere in Salisbury as one of fear, but also of resolve. "I speak out because it's this injustice that's being done. But I could be walking down the street right now, and ICE decided to stop me because they may feel like I'm an illegal immigrant or criminal," Raymond said. He added, "This is my country. This is my people. So I have no reason not to fight."

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the administration's actions, stating that TPS was never intended as a de facto asylum program and that the current administration is working to "restore integrity to our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe."

Faith leaders in Salisbury have taken a leading role in organizing protests against ICE's treatment of the Haitian community. Pastor Gabrielle Montilus of the Pentecostal Church noted that many congregants, regardless of their legal status, are afraid to attend services. "Even people, citizens, even if they have a green card, they still scared," she said. "This is a very bad feeling. Very, very, very bad feeling."

Raymond, who spent 15 years obtaining his own green card, shared the distress of families separated by deportations, referencing a common scenario: "Daddy goes to work. Daddy never came home. Where's Daddy? Why did he take Daddy? Mom doesn't have an answer for that."

Raymond's immigration services practice has seen community members, many of whom previously had lawful status that has now been revoked, facing deportation. He reported that six of his clients are currently in the process of being deported, and communication often ceases once individuals are detained.

Community members and advocates, like Bishop William J. Barber II, who spoke at a recent protest, emphasize the importance of speaking out against mistreatment and standing in solidarity. "This is America at its best, and you can see in the eyes of the people they're serious. They are not for people being mistreated like this, and the laws being used to terrorize folks," Barber said. "Don't stay in the silence. Don't stay quiet. This is not the season to be in hiding, and this should be happening all over."