Ohio Pastors Unite as Faithful Allies for Haitian Migrants During Trump's Crackdown
One pastor grew up in rural Haiti, surrounded by poverty and violence in his troubled yet beautiful Caribbean nation. The other was raised in Michigan as a self-described "blue-collar farm kid" from Middle America. Both now serve as pastors in Springfield, Ohio, and both share a mission driven by their faith: supporting the city's Haitian migrants who fear deportation under President Donald Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown.
A Shared Cause and Mutual Respect
Reginald Silencieux, pastor of the First Haitian Evangelical Church, and Carl Ruby, pastor of Central Christian Church, have forged a powerful alliance. They stood up for Haitians when Trump falsely accused Springfield's Haitian migrants of eating their neighbors' cats and dogs in 2024. In response, they offered shelter in their churches and invited community members to join in prayer and peaceful protest against the false rumors that fueled anti-immigrant fears.
In the weeks following Trump's comments, schools, government buildings, and the homes of elected officials received dozens of bomb threats. Ruby and Silencieux were also targeted, yet they persevered. They have organized trainings to document and protest potential immigration enforcement raids, provided legal aid and food, and continued offering worship services in Creole and English-language classes. While praying for Trump, they have demanded an extension of the Temporary Protection Status program, which has allowed thousands of Haitians to legally arrive in Springfield in recent years, escaping unrest and gang violence in their homeland.
Community Leaders and Their Impact
"Both of them have been great leaders for the community," said Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, who has worked closely with both pastors. He calls Ruby a champion of migrants, even risking his life to support and welcome them. Dorsainvil is grateful to Silencieux for hosting the Haitian community center in his church since 2021 and inviting immigration attorneys to meet with congregants after services.
"He prays for them; he's fasting with them; he's giving them spiritual advice," Dorsainvil added. Silencieux grew up in a Christian family in Haiti, initially becoming an attorney but later feeling called to ministry. By his mid-twenties, he was preaching part-time and eventually pastored several churches in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's gang-controlled capital. "Life in Haiti was not easy. But it shaped my character," Silencieux said. "It taught me perseverance, responsibility and the importance of community."
Challenges and Faith in Springfield
In 2021, Silencieux moved to Springfield, where Haitian immigrants were helping meet labor demands in the city's growing manufacturing industry. He left behind his wife and children in Haiti and didn't know English, but he has since assisted thousands of Haitians who legally moved to Springfield under the TPS program. The U.S. initially granted TPS to Haitians after a devastating earthquake in 2010 and extended it several times, but the Trump administration has pushed to end that status, claiming conditions in Haiti have improved.
A federal judge recently ruled to keep the protection temporarily in place, but uncertainty and fear persist in Springfield. After the ruling, the judge received death threats, and bomb threats closed schools, offices, and businesses. Silencieux sometimes feels powerless, but he reminds the community—and himself—to keep faith. "As a pastor, I don't have any possibility to protect them," he said. "Faith helps me to help the community." At a recent Sunday service, he advised congregants to stay home as much as possible in case of immigration raids and offered a prayer for Trump and the Haitian community.
Ruby's Journey and Faith-Based Advocacy
Carl Ruby grew up in a Baptist family in rural Michigan, identifying as an evangelical and a Republican for most of his life. When he moved to Springfield, he knew no Haitians, but tensions flared in 2023 after a Haitian immigrant driver hit a school bus, killing a boy and injuring dozens. Ruby tuned into a live city council meeting discussing the crash and was appalled by racist statements. He drove immediately to the meeting to speak out, saying, "We need to remember that there are advantages of having immigrants come into our community; they're good people." This made him a friend to Haitians and an enemy to anti-immigrant factions.
After Trump's derogatory comments in 2024, Ruby invited Springfield's Haitians to worship at his church and encouraged his congregation to hand out supportive cards in Creole and English. Ruby believes God prepared him for this moment 15 years ago when, as vice president of student life at Cedarville University, he organized a trip tracing the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting sites like the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, he read King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and committed to using his voice against oppression.
Building a Faith-Led Movement
Ruby organized a national conference of Christian colleges to inspire immigrant-focused organizations and later founded G92, an immigrant advocacy group named after the Hebrew word "ger," meaning stranger or foreigner, which appears 92 times in the Old Testament. He takes pride that Springfield's resistance to Trump's immigration crackdown is faith-based. "This is definitely a faith-led movement," he said. "God loves immigrants and part of demonstrating that you're one of God's people is taking care of immigrants."
Despite threats and slander, Ruby remains undaunted. "I've never lost a moment of sleep over worrying about someone harming me," he said. "I believe God will protect me." On February 2, he helped organize an event where hundreds packed a church to sing and pray in support of Haitians, so many that a fire marshal asked scores to leave due to capacity limits. "Outside beautiful events with my family, it was the most beautiful day of my life," Ruby said.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
With the TPS program's future uncertain, Ruby worries about Haitian migrants in Springfield but remains hopeful. "I think God's going to bless our city for doing the right thing," he said. Together, Silencieux and Ruby exemplify how faith can bridge divides and offer solace in times of crisis, standing as steadfast allies for a community in need.
