Columbus‑born filmmaker Logan St. Hilaire will debut his 15‑minute documentary Maroon at the Wexner Center for the Arts on Sept. 11 as part of the Sightlines: Ohio Documentary Shorts program. The film uses his own family’s story to illustrate the broader fallout from President Donald Trump’s decision in late July to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals living in Ohio.
TPS revocation and local consequences
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has accelerated deportations of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, following the administration’s move. The policy shift was fueled by a false rumor that Haitian residents were feeding on pets – a claim that spread in right‑wing circles in 2024 and was amplified by Senator JD Vance, who later suggested it was acceptable to “create stories” to draw media attention.
Personal narrative meets national policy
St. Hilaire, a 22‑year‑old Ohio State graduate, weaves his family’s experience into the larger debate. He recounts how his Haitian father and siblings faced taunts in New York during the 1980s, and how his parents chose not to teach their Ohio‑born children Haitian Creole to protect their English proficiency. The film’s voice‑over, delivered in Creole by his father, underscores the lingering prejudice Haitians endure.
“Beginning work on ‘Maroon,’ there were talks of the attacks on TPS, and I remember being on campus when there were a lot of discussions on how to really handle ICE,” St. Hilaire said. He believes the Ohio setting makes the story especially poignant, as the community witnesses a “violent mobilization against Haitian people.”
Family, faith, and citizenship
The short also explores what it means to claim American identity. It opens and closes with recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance—first in Haitian Creole by his father, then in English by St. Hilaire—highlighting the dedication of his parents, a health‑care worker and a truck driver, to their adopted country.
St. Hilaire credits learning about the Haitian Revolution and his ancestors’ fight for freedom as a catalyst for embracing his heritage. He hopes the film encourages other young people to honor their roots while contributing to the nation.
Screening details
When: Friday, Sept. 11 (part of a program running Sept. 10‑13)
Where: Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio (additional venues across the city)
Admission: Free, part of the Cinema Columbus festival
“Maroon” offers a neo‑realistic glimpse into Haitian American life, from everyday moments like a car repair to broader questions of civic duty and immigrant rights. It arrives at a time when the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions are reshaping the lives of many Ohio families.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
