Thousands of Haitians in Columbus will retain their temporary protected status through Monday.
A federal appeals judge delayed the Trump administration's cancellation of the program, which was set to happen on Friday.
"I wouldn't say it's from a place of giving them three more days, it's just honestly the litigation process," said Yola Lamarre with Haitian Community Network. "Everything is just so unpredictable right now."
TPS is a legal way for immigrants to stay in the United States if they are unable to return home safely because of an armed conflict, an environmental disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane, an epidemic, or other conditions.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that the Trump administration could end TPS for more than 300,000 Haitians in the United States. So far, those people have retained their legal status while waiting for lower courts to align with the higher court decision.
Lamarre called the current situation "uncertain."
"People are, you know, just in despair, in distress. People have nowhere to go back to when it comes to Haiti. And it's just very difficult, for sure. It's very difficult to navigate," Lamarre said.
The Haitian Community Network in Columbus estimates that around 30,000 Haitians live in Columbus, with about 18,000 of them here on TPS. Springfield also has a large Haitian population.
