As a proud son (Alister) of a Haitian immigrant and daughter (Faiza) of Pakistani immigrants, we know firsthand how having legal immigration status can be the difference between staying with your family and being torn away from them. It is often what separates those living in fear and others living with stability and opportunity.
Under the current federal administration, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been under attack, with several designations facing termination and non-renewals in the past calendar year.
In November, while facing a termination of status, around 6,000 TPS holders from Syria were granted a stay by a federal judge to continue their protections while the courts reviewed the country’s current conditions. In the months following, a federal judge temporarily blocked the termination of TPS for Haitian immigrants, granting a reprieve to nearly 57,000 Haitian TPS holders in New York.
Recently, bipartisan efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives have resulted in the passage of H.R.1689, which extends TPS for Haiti until April 2029. While we welcome this positive congressional action, the bill’s fate in the Senate remains to be seen. Thus, more work is left to be done to support not only Haitian New Yorkers, but all TPS holders who call New York home.
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A group of Syrian refugee families walk through Central Park in 2017. (DON EMMERT / AFP via Getty Images)
While these court decisions and legislation provide temporary relief, the future of our Haitian and Syrian community members remain uncertain, as their case will be jointly heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this coming Wednesday, April 29. We stand firmly in support of our Haitian and Syrian community, who are integral to the economic, cultural, and social fabric of our city and we will continue to advocate for immigration reform for all.
It’s inhumane to send any immigrant back to their home country in the midst of the ongoing political instability and environmental crises that precipitated their arrivals in the first place. Haiti continues to grapple with the devastation of the 2010 earthquake, compounded by subsequent natural disasters, political turmoil, and economic challenges.
Meanwhile, Syrians still face an ongoing humanitarian crisis while the country recovers from a decades long civil war that has decimated the country’s infrastructure, economy, and civil society. Deporting families to face these dire conditions will have destabilizing effects on them and on New Yorkers, as both Syrian and Haitian immigrants have built their lives here that have made them indispensable members of our communities.
Protecting our fellow New Yorkers isn’t just a moral imperative. The economic contributions of TPS holders to New York City and the nation are undeniable. In 2023, New York TPS households earned $2.3 billion in income, paid $348.9 million in federal taxes and $305.5 million in state and local taxes, and contributed $1.6 billion in spending power. They are caregivers, nursing assistants, agricultural workers, and small business owners who power critical industries and provide essential services.
In New York City alone, TPS holders represent thousands of caregivers and nursing assistants. Ending TPS would not only devastate these individuals and their families, but also harm our health care system and the patients who rely on their care. The ripples would be felt across the five boroughs, exacerbating our ongoing crisis of child poverty if TPS holders were to lose work authorization and no longer be able to provide for their children.
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Haitian asylum seekers arrive in Miami on board a sailboat in January 2023. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
While we continue to advocate for protections, there are steps TPS holders can take in the interim. We urge all Haitian and Syrian TPS holders to consult a lawyer immediately. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), has launched a Haitian Response Initiative to provide free, trusted legal support and other services in their language. TPS holders can call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365, or call 311 and say “immigration legal” for answers to immigration policy questions and legal help.
New York State public health insurance may be available for those who are facing the loss of employer-sponsored health insurance due to TPS termination.
We remind all immigrant community members that your privacy and safety are protected when using public health care services in New York City. City health facilities do not require patients to disclose their immigration status, and strict policies are in place to deny permission to non-local law enforcement, including ICE, from entering most city facilities.
These protections ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can get the care they need without fear.
Immigrant New Yorkers are our neighbors, co-workers, and friends. They are people we trust to care for our loved ones, the hands that feed us when in need of a warm meal, and the faith leaders who inspire us when we’re short on hope. They are an essential part of the economic and cultural heart of our city.
As the court battle moves forward, our city must strengthen our fight for justice and safety for TPS holders in New York. New York City will continue to lead with compassion, resilience, and unwavering support for our immigrant communities.
“Sa ou fè se li ou wè.” In Haitian Creole, that means: “What we see is the result of our actions.” Together, we will continue to call for immigration reform and take steps to ensure that all TPS holders can live safe, dignified, and independent lives in their city.
Please note that this op-ed is not legal advice. Policies may change due to future announcements or litigation. For questions about policy changes discussed in this article, please contact an accredited legal representative.
Martin is the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Ali is the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.