More than 30 people gathered in Melbourn on August 8 outside the office of Representative Mike Haridopolos to protest the Trump administration’s cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. The event was organized by the Space Coast Immigrant Rights Alliance (SCIRA), which called for reinstating the policy that had provided legal protections to nearly 4,000 Haitian residents in Brevard County — the state’s largest Haitian population.
Activists from Brevard Youth for Democracy, Awake Brevard Action Alliance, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization Orlando held signs and chanted at the busy intersection. Jack Apostos of Brevard Youth for Democracy told the crowd the fight is “24/7, seven days a week until we win.” A SCIRA member spoke about Haiti’s history, noting the country has “never seen a day of peace” since its 1804 independence from France.
The protest targeted the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials. The SCIRA member accused officials of enabling “a felon and his masked thugs” to operate under the guise of police. Attendees emphasized the need to stop what they called a “constant cycle of abuse.”
The demonstration followed a nationwide push by immigrant rights groups to restore TPS, which was terminated in 2021. Brevard County officials have not publicly commented on the protest. SCIRA plans to hold additional rallies in the coming weeks.