Southwest Florida hospitality industry fears staffing crisis as Haitian TPS expires

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — More than 300,000 Haitians' futures in the United States are uncertain as their Temporary Protected Status is set to end on Monday.

• RELATED: Haitian TPS ruling extends protections, giving SWFL businesses breathing room

In June, a court decision allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending certain protections, arguing the designation was never intended to be permanent.

The deadline has significant implications for workers and businesses across Southwest Florida in industries including hospitality. Roughly more than 90,000 Haitian workers with TPS status in Florida could be terminated.

• SEE ALSO: Haitian community holds out hope after Supreme Court ruling

This follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier in July that ordered the end of protections for Haitian and Syrian holders. It was in 2010 that Temporary Protected Status was granted to Haitian nationals following a devastating earthquake and humanitarian crisis.

Trump administration officials have argued that the TPS designation was never intended to be permanent. Advocacy groups battled for extensions so a resolution could be reached, but the deadline has now been reached.

A professional in the service industry says this will significantly impact the hospitality workforce.

"It is very hard to replace employees, especially ones that have been there for a long period of time, on a dime," said Samantha Padgett 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 loss of these workers comes at a time when the hospitality industry already faces staffing challenges. Businesses across Southwest Florida now face the prospect of losing experienced employees who have been part of their workforce for years.