The City of Findlay is trying to reassure residents and clarify local policy as federal protections for many Haitian immigrants come to an end.

Letter addresses TPS uncertainty and safety

In a February 2 letter to “Findlay Community Members,” Mayor Christina Muryn acknowledges widespread concern over the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants and says the city has received no specific notice of planned federal enforcement activity in Findlay. She notes that she is in contact with state and federal officials but still does not know what, if any, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence the city should expect. In a previous post made by a Findlay resident and shared by FFP, ICE was spotted in in Findlay last week.​

Muryn’s first major point is that the city’s “top priority is keeping everyone in our community safe.” The letter instructs residents that if ICE agents come to a home or business, they should call 911 so a Findlay police officer can verify credentials and authorization. The mayor emphasizes that the Findlay Police Department will neither participate in nor obstruct federal immigration operations but will be present to ensure everyone’s legal rights are protected. She also affirms residents’ First Amendment rights to protest and advocate with state and federal officials, while warning that violent or destructive behavior will not be tolerated.

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Clarifying who is affected by the end of TPS

Muryn stresses that “not all our immigrant population are impacted by the ending of Temporary Protected Status.” Local reporting has estimated that Findlay and Hancock County together have roughly 1,000–1,500 Haitian immigrants, many of whom arrived legally and obtained TPS following natural disasters and instability in Haiti. The letter explains that the TPS deadline will likely affect only a portion of that community; others may have different legal pathways to remain, such as asylum claims or separate work visas that extend beyond the TPS expiration.​

She urges residents to remember that an individual’s immigration status is often complex and not visible from the outside, and that “just because someone is an immigrant does not mean that they do not have a legal right to be in the United States.” The mayor calls on the broader community to treat “all our neighbors with kindness and respect” during this period of uncertainty.​

Local response and legal support

Muryn’s message builds on earlier updates she delivered to city council and the public as the TPS deadline approached. She has previously said the city’s Immigration Task Force—which includes schools, nonprofits, businesses, and faith groups—is monitoring developments and coordinating support for Haitian families. The mayor has repeatedly directed TPS holders and concerned residents to Northwest Ohio Legal Aid and similar organizations for individualized legal advice on options such as extensions, relocation, or return to Haiti.

State officials, including Governor Mike DeWine, have said Ohio communities are preparing for the possibility of immigration enforcement but have likewise reported limited guidance from federal agencies on timing or scope. Muryn’s latest letter positions Findlay’s role as ensuring safety, protecting civil rights, and connecting affected residents with legal resources, while asking the wider community to respond with calm, accurate information, and neighborly support.​