Revoking TPS Comes at a Cost

Brian Lehrer (0:10)

Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Now we'll continue our coverage of the Trump administration's decision to revoke temporary protected status for Haitians, a decision the Supreme Court cleared the way for this summer, and a federal judge allowed them to make final in August. Today, we look at what this means on Long Island. In towns like Elmont, Valley Stream and elsewhere, homes to one of the largest Haitian populations in the country. The people affected here include not just the workers themselves, who are losing their work authorization, but small business owners who employ them. Of course, some of the Haitians on Long Island are business owners themselves, so obviously it affects them.

Home health aides losing their work authorization, kids asking their parents what happens next, neighbors and friends who built their lives in this country.

Haven't done anything wrong and who were here legally a month ago, now facing possible deportation to a country that the State Department itself still warns Americans not to even visit. There is also new uncertainty about TPS holders from El Salvador, of whom there are also many on Long Island. And we'll speak now with assembly member, New York State Assembly member, Michaelle Solages, who represents that Long Island district, about what she's hearing from constituents and where state government fits into a fight over federal immigration policy. Also joining us, Todd Schulte, president of the Immigration and Criminal Justice Reform Group, forward.us, that's fwd.us, about the economic argument his organization has been making, that TPS holders are woven into industries like construction, healthcare, and food service, and that removing them from the workforce shows up in prices and services for everyone. Assembly member Solages, Democrat from District 22, which includes Valley Stream, Elmont, Floral Park, Bellrose, North Woodmere, Stewart Manor, sections of Franklin Square. Maybe I got all of them. Welcome back to WNYC.

Michaelle Solages (2:10)

Thank you for having me on.

Brian Lehrer (2:12)

Todd Schulte, president of forward.us, welcome.

Todd Schulte (2:16)

Thank you. First time, long time, so great to be here.

Brian Lehrer (2:19)

Thank you. Listeners, you can help us report this story or you can call asking for advice. Are you a TPS holder from Haiti or El Salvador? Or do you know one, a neighbor, a coworker, someone in your family? Are you a small business owner or a health care employer on Long Island or anywhere in the region? But we're going to do a little Long Island special focus in this segment. Wondering how you keep your workforce. Give us a call and tell us what this looks like from where you sit. 212-433-WNYC, call or text 212-433-9692.

Assembly member, what are you actually hearing in district office in the aftermath of this Trump administration decision to evoke TPS?

Michaelle Solages (3:04)

What I'm hearing most is fear and uncertainty. People who have been working, raising kids, paying taxes, building their lives here, are suddenly asked a basic question. Do I leave or do I stay? Being elected office, people come to us because we have trusted information, and we are trying to connect people with credible legal assistance and accurate information.

But it's very difficult in this time of the information age, where people are on WhatsApp and other messaging programs, Facebook, hearing misinformation. It's been very difficult to navigate through. Then we also have the overlay of these ICE deportation and these federal agents coming into our community, scaring everyone. It's been very difficult.

Brian Lehrer (3:51)

Todd, let me get you on some of the economic impact to start, since I know this is some of your focus. Long Island's Haitian community includes, as I said in the intro, a lot of home health aides, nursing assistants, other health care workers. Have patients and employers in that sector, to start with that sector, already begun to feel the consequences of the TPS revocation?

Todd Schulte (4:13)

I think they have in a number of ways. To start, I think it's important to remember this dramatic ramp up that the assembly mentioned in ICE raids. You're talking about a quarter trillion dollars that's going to go into ICE raids over the next few years, and related immigration enforcement is being paid for by cuts to health care and programs like Medicaid. On top of that, the human consequences, the economic consequences of revoking work authorization to about 40,000 TPS holders from Haiti in the Tri-State area, another probably 20, 25,000 TPS holders from El Salvador. Many of those people are in health care.

And so these aren't just people who are working legally. They're trained, it's hard work, and it's often the first or the last hand that somebody born in the United States hold is maybe from a Haitian TPS holder. And so the economic and human consequences are real, they're stark, and they're now.