Gov. Mike DeWine continues to demonstrate his willingness to speak his mind as his tenure in Columbus approaches its end. Last week, he told PBS News Hour what he thought of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will allow for the ending of the Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians who have sought refuge here. Approximately 10,000 Haitian immigrants settled in Ohio, and DeWine calls the ruling “a mistake.”

“You’re seeing in Springfield a city that is coming back,” DeWine told News Hour. “It’s been coming back for the last few years. And, frankly, one of the reasons it’s come back is because of the Haitians who have been there to fill jobs that were simply not being filled at all.”

DeWine says employers in the area and the mayor of Springfield agree with him, noting the newcomers have opened businesses, bought houses, are raising their families and have contributed to the community in a way that is revitalizing the town.

DeWine rightly criticized the Supreme Court ruling, which appears to be an agenda-driven effort that ignores the damage it will do to the Buckeye State.

“This is bad for Ohio,” DeWine said. “This is a job killer for Ohio. It’s a job killer for Springfield. It’s not good for our state.”

Regarding the benefit to employers and the economy, DeWine told News Hours: “Some of these companies told me, we were able to put on a second shift because of the Haitians. Some had told me that we’re able to take on bigger projects, sell more goods, whatever it is that they were selling. That has a multiplier effect in the economy.”

It has an effect on the population, too, according to DeWine.

“Without immigrants coming in, it’s going to be hard,” he said. “It’s going to be harder for us to fill these jobs. If you look at the increase in population in Ohio — and we are now going up for the first time in a number of years. If you look at that, probably three-fourths of that is a direct result of immigrants.”

DeWine is not an irrational person. He’s been a reasonable, effective governor who doesn’t let party lines hamper his ability to serve Ohioans. If he’s telling it like he sees it now, it’s because the evidence in Springfield is worth sharing.

What a shame it will be if this time next year we must hear from DeWine, “I told you so.”