OHIO — A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated that the use of ankle monitors is due to a lack of detention space for the more than 300,000 Haitians who lost protected status. Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently holds approximately 65,000 immigrants in detention facilities across the United States. Markwayne Mullin serves as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

"We were really worried that this was going to be a mass enforcement, mass detention operation," said Katie Kersh, an immigration attorney. "They all have these ankle monitors and they’re not allowed to travel outside of a 75-mile radius from their home."

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson provided a statement via email regarding the policy shift. "DHS does not discuss ongoing or future operations," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added a characterization of the current situation for those losing status. "What we would say now is it’s closing time, which means you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here," the spokesperson said.

Why It Matters

The shift to electronic monitoring reflects the logistical constraints faced by federal agencies when managing large populations losing legal protection. With detention facilities holding approximately 65,000 individuals, the government cited insufficient space as the primary driver for using ankle monitors for the more than 300,000 Haitians affected by the June Supreme Court decision. This approach avoids mass detention while still enforcing departure requirements through geographic restrictions.

The situation in Haiti provides context for the concerns raised by advocates and the scale of displacement. Reports indicate that armed groups control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and thousands have been killed in recent years. The increase in deportations, with more than 68,000 Haitians returned in early 2026, reflects the ongoing pressure on both the U.S. immigration system and the receiving country.

Timeline

On September 9, 2024, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security approved the renewal of the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council Charter. More than 300,000 Haitians lost Temporary Protected Status following a Supreme Court decision in June 2026. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status protections for more than 50,000 Syrians who entered the United States after the civil war began in 2015, also in June 2026.

Seth Herald stood outside the Department of Homeland Security field office in Blue Ash, Ohio, wearing an ankle monitor on August 2, 2026. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes removed a stay preventing the Trump administration from lifting Temporary Protected Status for Haitians on August 5, 2026, following a Supreme Court decision. Monsanto Maler received an ankle monitor at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Blue Ash, Ohio, on August 10, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that Haitians in Ohio who lost their Temporary Protected Status are directly affected, and more than 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. have lost their protected status after a Supreme Court decision in June, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act was sponsored by Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8], with its latest action being referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims. A study titled Evaluating the Impact of Immigration Policies on Health Status Among Undocumented Immigrants: A Systematic Review was published in 2013 in Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.

Monsanto Maler received an ankle monitor at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Blue Ash, Ohio, on August 10, 2026. U.S. District Judge Reyes removed a stay preventing the Trump administration from lifting Temporary Protected Status for Haitians on August 5, 2026, following a Supreme Court decision. Temporary Protected Status is a temporary status for eligible nationals of designated countries who reside in the United States. Viles Dorsainvil heads the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio. More than 12,000 Haitians moved to Springfield, Ohio, over the last decade.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the loss of status in Ohio, desk_web states that Haitians in Ohio who lost their Temporary Protected Status are directly affected, and more than 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. have lost their protected status after a Supreme Court decision in June, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is issuing ankle monitors to Haitian immigrants in Ohio who have lost Temporary Protected Status instead of placing them in long-term detention.

On the Supreme Court's role, desk_web states that Haitians in Ohio who lost their Temporary Protected Status are directly affected, and more than 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. have lost their protected status after a Supreme Court decision in June, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. Supreme Court ruling states that The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status protections for more than 50,000 Syrians who entered the United States after the civil war began in 2015.

Concerning the nature of the program, desk_web states that Haitians in Ohio who lost their Temporary Protected Status are directly affected, and more than 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. have lost their protected status after a Supreme Court decision in June, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. U.S. Code states that Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program created by Congress that allows people from countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other extreme circumstances to live and work in the United States temporarily.

Regarding DHS presence in Ohio, desk_web states that Haitians in Ohio who lost their Temporary Protected Status are directly affected, and more than 300,000 Haitians in the U.S. have lost their protected status after a Supreme Court decision in June, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. Department of Homeland Security records states that Seth Herald stood outside the Department of Homeland Security field office in Blue Ash, Ohio, wearing an ankle monitor on August 2, 2026.

On the administration's legal actions, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia docket states that U.S. District Judge Reyes removed a stay preventing the Trump administration from lifting Temporary Protected Status for Haitians on August 5, 2026, following a Supreme Court decision. Supreme Court ruling states that The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status protections for more than 50,000 Syrians who entered the United States after the civil war began in 2015.

Regarding the reason for monitoring, Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is issuing ankle monitors to Haitian immigrants in Ohio who have lost Temporary Protected Status instead of placing them in long-term detention. Department of Homeland Security official statement states that A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated that the use of ankle monitors is due to a lack of detention space for the more than 300,000 Haitians who lost protected status.

On the definition of the status, wikidata states that Temporary Protected Status is a temporary status for eligible nationals of designated countries who reside in the United States. Supreme Court ruling states that The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status protections for more than 50,000 Syrians who entered the United States after the civil war began in 2015.

Regarding DHS and ankle monitors, Department of Homeland Security official statement states that A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated that the use of ankle monitors is due to a lack of detention space for the more than 300,000 Haitians who lost protected status. Department of Homeland Security records states that Seth Herald stood outside the Department of Homeland Security field office in Blue Ash, Ohio, wearing an ankle monitor on August 2, 2026.