Florida Nursing Homes Seek Exemptions for Haitian TPS Holders

Florida's largest nursing home association has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow Haitians with temporary protected status (TPS) to continue working in long-term care and pursue "available lawful immigration pathways," according to the Florida Phoenix, republished by Orlando Weekly. In a July 7 letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) Chief Executive Officer J. Emmett Reed wrote that if roughly one in five Haitian TPS holders works in healthcare, as national workforce analyses indicate, as many as 35,000 healthcare workers in Florida could be affected. The FHCA represents more than 650 facilities. Approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals nationwide hold TPS, with an estimated half living in Florida. TPS designation for Haiti began in 2010 after an earthquake that killed more than 500,000 people. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined Haiti no longer met the conditions for its designation; a U.S. District Court initially stayed that decision. The report states the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, subsequently declared Haitian and Syrian immigrants are not entitled to orders postponing an end to TPS while litigation is pending, effectively stripping deportation protections and work permits. Jackson Health System, which employs 50 Haitian TPS holders, has not intervened.