The US healthcare industry is grappling with a significant loss of its workforce after 350,000 Haitians had their temporary protected status (TPS) terminated at the end of July. This decision, which followed a Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Trump administration, means that TPS holders can no longer legally work in the US and are at risk of deportation.
The healthcare sector, which has a substantial Haitian workforce, has been particularly hard hit. Employers have been forced to dismiss TPS holders who work directly with patients, exacerbating existing staffing shortages. Kezia Scales, vice-president of policy and research at the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, noted that Haiti is among the top five countries from which immigrants in the direct-care workforce originate. She stated that the domestic market, excluding immigrants, does not have enough people to fill these jobs.
Organisations like AHRC Nassau, which supports individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, have been severely impacted. CEO Stanfort Perry reported that the organisation laid off 19 Haitian staff this year, in addition to 22 last year due to other immigration crackdowns. He highlighted the difficulty of recruiting and training new staff, especially when competing with other sectors that offer higher wages.
Similarly, Jewish Community Services of South Florida lost 18 Haitian TPS holders, leading to remaining aides working overtime and creating a substantial financial strain on the non-profit. Sarah Katzenstein, the organisation's director of strategic communications and marketing, said the loss has been particularly damaging for seniors, including Holocaust survivors, who had long-standing relationships with their caregivers.