The Department of Homeland Security has authorized immigration enforcement officers to arrest people living in the country without legal status in Ohio.
The operations in Springfield follow the expiration of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals last month.
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Carl Ruby serves as director of Springfield G92, a faith-based immigrant advocacy group.
Ruby assists Haitian nationals who lost legal protections by accompanying them to check-in appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Everyone is terrified and people are afraid to come out,” Ruby said.
Ruby said he witnessed what appeared to be enforcement officers taking a Haitian man into custody at a Springfield car wash.
The official identity of the group performing the arrest remains unconfirmed.
Ruby reported that at least 15 to 20 people have been detained since legal protections ended, though these detentions have not been officially verified as federal operations and none of those detained were accused of crimes.