Haitians in Miami Fear TPS Termination as Work Permits Near Expiration
Some 330,000 Haitians in the US, including 158,000 in Florida, face uncertainty as the Temporary Protected Status program approaches its end, according to EFE.
Fear is spreading among an estimated 330,000 Haitians in the United States — 158,000 of them in Florida — over the imminent loss of their work permits with the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a situation that also exposes them to deportation risk as they await congressional action, according to reporting by EFE via elpreg.org. On June 25, the US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to eliminate the protection, and last Friday US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) set July 24 as the program's expiration date. Migrant groups and lawyers note that effective termination depends on the conclusion of a district court process, leaving beneficiaries and employers in limbo. Carline Paul, known as 'Teacher Carline,' a retired Miami-Dade public schools teacher who has lived 53 years in Florida, told EFE the situation is 'inhumane.' Community organizer Lilly described emotional and mental harm from the uncertainty. According to FWD.us, Haitians with TPS contribute roughly $2.6 billion annually to Florida's economy, about $1.5 billion in the Miami area. TPS for Haitians was established in 2010 after an earthquake. In April, the House passed a bill to extend it to April 2029, but it remains pending in the Senate. This account is single-source and developing.