Healthcare delivery is now less secure, and we have the Trump administration to thank for it. Thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants have lost their temporary protected status (TPS) to legally live and work in the United States. As a proud Haitian-American who immigrated to the States as a child, and as a 30-plus-year nurse, I can unequivocally say that this decision will continue to disrupt healthcare delivery in and around New York City.
My family moved to Staten Island in the late 1960s seeking safety, opportunity, and a chance to build a future — just like generations of people before us from all over the world.
I chose to go into healthcare, and nursing specifically, because of the kindness of the Kings County Hospital nurses and healthcare professionals who cared for my family during our early days in New York. Being the new kid is never easy, but the discrimination we faced as Haitian immigrants was cruel, and the kindness of those Creole-speaking nurses and healthcare workers at Kings County stayed with me. Today I worry that future generations will lose access to this type of care.
This decision to end TPS for Haitian immigrants is rooted in racism and hatred, and the effects are far reaching. Hospitals and healthcare workers are already reporting growing staffing concerns, as many workers are scared to leave their homes for fear of being targeted by ICE.
During COVID we saw a tremendous shift in hospital staffing due to retirements, mental and physical distress, and even the loss of healthcare worker lives. NYSNA fought long and hard to increase staffing numbers and levels because we know that increased numbers of qualified, trained nurses save lives.
So now hospitals are again struggling with growing staffing shortages, and the federal government is also cutting the critical healthcare programs on which millions of older adults, children, and low-income families rely. These decisions do not happen in isolation. Together, they weaken our healthcare system at a time when patients need it to be stronger than ever.
Each and every day, my fellow nurses, healthcare workers and I show up to care for and improve the lives of our patients. Some of us assist in delivery rooms, some of us administer medications, some of us advocate for our patients to insurance companies to make sure lifesaving is covered. We do this because we love our patients and know they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. But what about those of us who provide care?
Healthcare workers should not have to wonder whether going to work means risking separation from their families or losing the lives they have spent years building in this country. Patients should not have to worry that the nurse who knows them best, the aide who helps them every morning, or the home care worker they trust will suddenly disappear because of a political decision.
We don’t enter the field looking to get rich or gain clout. We choose to care because we do care — about our communities, about our patients, and about the future.
This is not just an immigration issue; it is a public health issue. And ultimately, it is a question of what kind of country we want to be. For centuries, our shores have welcomed those from abroad looking for the opportunity to grow, build, and achieve. Once, the tired, poor and huddled masses from all over the world have helped grow this nation, and our beloved city.
When we force caregivers out of our communities, everyone is less safe. If we truly value healthcare, we must value those who make it possible.
Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, is the president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), which represents more than 45,000 members.