• Features

Local Haitian family facing deportation despite legal status

• By Ellen Pill
• April 20, 2025
• 4571

In the wake of a surge in deportations nationwide, a Wooster family — here legally — is now facing imminent removal from the United States. Marie Guerty Aristilde, her 17-year-old daughter Edmie, a senior at Wooster High School, and a 16-year-old cousin, Socrates, a freshman at Wooster, have been ordered to leave the country by April 24.

The family arrived nearly a year ago after legally immigrating from Haiti to escape gang violence and reunite with Aristilde’s two adult children and two grandchildren who live nearby. Socrates had planned to join his mother in New Jersey, where she is currently working on his asylum application.

“I came to this country for a better and a safer life and also to be closer to my children,” said Aristilde, who works locally, pays taxes and contributes to Social Security. “I escaped my village after gangs invaded it and took over and killed so many people. I had to leave everything I had behind.”

Local attorney, Wooster City Council member and immigration advocate Barbara Knapic sponsored the family’s move and helped facilitate their legal entry.

“It was more than a year’s process (to get them here),” Knapic said. “They are just thrilled and feel so lucky to be here, like all of our ancestors. ... They are not criminals. Despite (President Donald) Trump’s campaign promise to get rid of criminals, they are not criminals — never have been.”

Knapic said the only remaining option is to file for asylum, but even that carries no guarantees.

“They are certainly on the clock,” she said. “They are definitely in danger of being forcibly removed.”

Aristilde, she said, has nowhere to return to. Gangs have taken her home, and if deported, the family will face almost certain violence.

“They will (likely) be persecuted by gangs and conscripted,” Knapic said. “Edmie is a beautiful young lady, and I hate to think what the gangs will do to her. Socrates will surely be conscripted into the gangs.

“This should be of great concern to the community,” Knapic added, “because this is about humanity. They are immigrants, but here legally and contributing to our American economy and culture — just like every one of our ancestors, unless you are Native American.”

Aristilde’s son said Haiti is currently experiencing severe political instability, violence and economic hardship, making it unsafe for the family to return. Their only viable path to stay in the U.S. is to apply for asylum, but the process is complex and costly.

To help cover legal expenses, including attorney fees and application costs, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign: https://gofund.me/16b4eef6.

“Every dollar someone can donate would be so helpful,” Aristilde said.

Community members are also being asked to call Rep. Matt Miller and Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, urging them to stop the deportation and facilitate asylum for Aristilde and her daughter.

“(This mother and daughter) are legal,” Knapic said. “... They are good people. ... Their lives are being used as pawns in a political agenda. It is shameful and sad. The bottom line is what prevents the government from looking at any of us next? Essentially, we are all immigrants, including Trump’s mother, who came here undocumented, and his wife’s family, who (obtained) citizenship because Trump was able to pay for that.

“... Is our citizenship and compassion for sale to the highest bidder? We, as a people and a country, are so much better than this.”

Aristilde said everyone who came under the humanitarian parole program received a deportation letter asking them to leave the country.

“It’s sad because we’re here for a better life, not to break the law,” she said. “I wish the government would give us a chance to have that life. My dream for the future is to have a status where I don’t have to worry about getting sent back to Haiti.

“I want to be able to stay closer to my children and continue to build a better future for the next generation.”