Haitian TPS ruling extends protections, giving SWFL businesses breathing room

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— A federal judge ruled that Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals cannot be terminated before July 27, giving TPS holders and the businesses that employ them more time.

The decision has significant implications for workers and businesses across Southwest Florida. In Florida, approximately 93,000 Haitian TPS holders are working in the state, according to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Many of these workers have been with the same employers for years. Businesses say losing that experience could make it even harder to fill open positions in restaurants, hotels and other parts of the hospitality industry.

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"It is very hard to replace employees, especially ones that have been there for a long period of time, on a dime," said Samantha Paget of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. "We, as it stands, even with TPS currently in place, we have positions in the hospitality industry that we could fill, even as it stands."

The Haitian-American Community Coalition of Southwest Florida is now asking people to contact their U.S. Senators. In a statement, the coalition's president said, "We're also encouraging everyone to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to vote YES on S. 4814, which would extend TPS protections."

For now, the July 27 deadline is the next key date. Haitian TPS holders, their families and their employers wait to see what comes next.