Advocates Warn End of Haitian TPS Could Strain NYC Healthcare Workforce

Healthcare workers, labor leaders, and elected officials gathered at 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East headquarters on July 10 to speak out against the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals, according to the New York Amsterdam News. Speakers warned the move could destabilize New York City's healthcare system and displace families who have lived in the city for years. In New York City, many Haitian immigrants work in hospitals and nursing homes as certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, and dietary workers, and with home care agencies, the outlet reported. As caregivers, they assist older adults and people with disabilities with bathing, dressing, eating, moving safely, taking medication, traveling to appointments, and remaining connected to family life. "This is a cruel, heartless, and inhumane policy that will rip parents away from their children and devastate whole communities," said Andy Cassagnol, executive vice president of 1199SEIU. "It will also exacerbate the existing worker shortages in nursing homes and home care programs. Who will care for our seniors and individuals living with disabilities if TPS ends?" TPS allows eligible people to stay and work legally in the U.S. when conditions in their home countries make return unsafe. The report reflects a single-source account of a developing situation.