CRIS 30th Anniversary Story | Haitians
Over the past 30 years, CRIS has had the privilege of walking alongside thousands of individuals and families rebuilding their lives after unimaginable hardship. This month, June of 2025, we’ve shared some of these stories with you. But the CRIS story is not complete without honoring the Haitian individuals–both on our staff and in our community–whom we have been privileged to serve alongside over the last couple of years.
We had hoped to feature at least one Haitian story in this anniversary series—a voice to represent the strength, struggles, and resilience we’ve witnessed firsthand. But as we began reaching out, many of the Haitian individuals we’ve served responded with a quiet kind of heartbreak.
Not now. Not safely. Not while the pathway forward is so fragile, and the fear of deportation is so real.
Their silence isn’t a lack of courage; it’s a reflection of the current climate. Many Haitian asylum seekers, parolees and those with temporary protected status in the U.S. today are living in limbo—without permanent legal status, many now unable to work because their work authorization was suddenly revoked, and under the looming threat of forced return to a country they fled in desperation. A country where armed gangs control large swaths of territory, where political leadership has collapsed, and where even basic human services are out of reach.
These untold stories surround us. So, this particular piece is for…
…the couple—one a physician, the other a psychologist in Haiti—now working night shifts and raising their three young daughters while they rebuild from the ground up.
…the former medical student who crossed continents to find safety and pour himself into service to his community.
…the father of three who walked thousands of miles to reach the U.S. border, only to become gravely ill and temporarily paralyzed during the journey.
…the husband and father who earned an honest living as a driver in Haiti, only to be forcibly removed from his home by gang members, now in Columbus seeking safety and security.
…the man who once was a civil servant in Haiti, forced out by gang violence, now working nights and studying English during the day to build a new life.
And for so many others whose names we can’t share, but whose hopes and hardships are woven into the fabric of this organization.
This is not a story we couldn’t find.
This is a story we are protecting.
And it is a story worth honoring.
To the Haitian community members who have entrusted us to walk alongside you in your journey, thank you. We see you. We are with you. And your story is part of ours.