The expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians is already rippling across South Florida, affecting families, hospitals, schools and airports as thousands face the prospect of losing legal work authorization and possible deportation.
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For one Haitian mother, the uncertainty has become overwhelming. Speaking through an immigrant advocate and requesting anonymity out of fear, she said her family is living with intense anxiety as TPS protections come to an end.
“We’re all living in fear. Even the children. The children have to go to school, and they don’t want to go because they’re afraid,” said Leonie Hermantin, translating on the mother’s behalf.
The woman, who is in her 40s, has five children living in the United States. Now, her family is preparing for the possibility that she could be deported.
As TPS expires for more than 300,000 Haitians, immigration attorneys and advocates are urging affected families to prepare for potential disruptions, including establishing powers of attorney for their children.
“A power of attorney helps them identify a family, an individual, a trusted individual who can agree to step up and be responsible for the child temporarily,” said Hermantin, an immigrant advocate with Sant La.
Healthcare systems losing employees
The end of TPS is also affecting South Florida’s healthcare workforce.
Martha Baker, president of the union representing 5,000 nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals at Jackson Health System.
“I do know that the majority of them are clinicians, meaning they’re touching patients every day,” Baker said.
Jackson Health estimates it will lose about 50 employees because of the TPS expiration. Memorial Healthcare says 27 employees are affected. Broward Health said the impact will be less than one percent of its workforce, while Catholic Health Services estimates it will lose about 40 workers.
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Baker said those losses will be felt immediately.
“I know on one floor, the transplant floor, there’s two Haitian nurses who can no longer work at Jackson. So, that’s a real hit to one floor,” she said.
Schools also feeling the effects
Broward County Public Schools is among the employers dealing with staffing losses tied to the end of TPS.
“Yes, this is impacting us,” Superintendent Howard Hepburn said.
The district expects to terminate about 27 employees whose work authorization is ending with TPS.
“It hurts. They are across the organization. They’re teachers, they’re bus drivers, they’re facility workers,” Hepburn said.
The losses come as Broward Schools has been searching for additional bus drivers ahead of the new school year.
Airport workforce impact
The effects extend beyond healthcare and education.
At Miami International Airport, 33 employees with TPS work in concessions or for contractors and airlines.
At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, officials reported 132 employees with TPS as of Tuesday, most working in concessions and janitorial services.
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