SAN DIEGO (Le Floridien) — The arrest of two Haitian parents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shortly after dropping off their young children at school is raising new concerns within the Haitian community as families face an increasingly uncertain immigration environment following the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.
James Mervil and Josselene Polidor were arrested Wednesday morning near John Marshall Elementary School in San Diego, where their 2- and 5-year-old children attend a program. The arrests occurred shortly after the couple had dropped off the children.
The case has drawn particular attention because, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mervil and Polidor entered the United States legally in 2022. People close to the family told ABC 10News that the couple previously had Haitian TPS and currently have a pending asylum case.
For Haitian community advocates, their detention illustrates the uncertainty now confronting some families who entered the United States legally and previously benefited from temporary immigration protections.
Children Left Without Their Parents
Because both parents were detained after the school drop-off, arrangements had to be made for someone else to care for their children. School officials contacted a family friend, while the children remained safely at school.
The incident has intensified concerns among Haitian families in San Diego. Community advocates say some immigrants have become increasingly afraid of routine activities—including taking their children to school—because of the possibility of encountering immigration authorities.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance and other community members have spoken publicly about the arrests, arguing that enforcement actions affecting parents can have consequences extending well beyond the individuals detained.
DHS Defends the Arrests
DHS, however, says the operation was a targeted immigration enforcement action and that ICE was not targeting the elementary school.
According to federal officials, Mervil and Polidor entered the United States lawfully in 2022 but later overstayed their authorized stay.
DHS also alleges that when agents attempted a traffic stop, the couple left their vehicle and fled on foot. Mervil was detained without further incident, while DHS alleges that Polidor resisted arrest and bit an ICE officer on the hand.
Mervil was later released under an alternative-to-detention program and fitted with a GPS ankle monitor. Polidor remained in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.
Broader Fears in the Haitian Community
Beyond the circumstances of this particular case, the arrests are resonating within a Haitian community already concerned about immigration enforcement following the termination of TPS.
TPS had provided eligible Haitians temporary protection from deportation and authorization to work in the United States because of dangerous conditions in Haiti. Its termination has left many families trying to determine what legal protections remain available to them.
The San Diego case also demonstrates the complexity of immigration status. While the couple reportedly has a pending asylum case, DHS maintains that they overstayed their authorized stay. A pending asylum application does not necessarily resolve every question concerning a person’s immigration status or whether ICE can detain that individual.
For Haitian families watching the case, however, the most striking aspect may be much simpler.
Two parents took their young children to school Wednesday morning. Minutes later, both were in ICE custody. Their father eventually returned under GPS monitoring, while their mother remained detained.
For a community already dealing with uncertainty over TPS and increased immigration enforcement, the case is another reminder that changes in immigration policy can quickly move from Washington and the courts into the everyday lives of Haitian families.
