Connecticut Protects Haitian Residents As End Of Temporary Protected Status Threatens Healthcare

• Connecticut is directing $5 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to help residents affected by the end of federal Temporary Protected Status for Haitian, Syrian and other immigrants

• The change followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling clearing the way for the Trump regime to end the legal status, which formally expired for Haitians in late July

• Connecticut nursing homes and other care facilities, already short-staffed, have begun losing workers who lost their ability to legally work

Connecticut committed $5 million to help residents affected by the end of federal Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, as the state’s healthcare industry braced for worsening staffing shortages after thousands lost work authorization.

Last year, the Trump administration sought to end TPS for residents of Haiti and Syria, among other countries, who came to the United States under the program allowing them to live and work after unrest, violence and oppression became issues in their nations.

Thousands of people from both nations are likely to be sent back to them by the federal government despite the government continuing to consider them under “Do Not Travel” advisories. The Supreme Court’s ruling in late June ended the status in late July after a one-month period.

In response, Governor Lamont’s office announced Connecticut will invest $5 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to support residents impacted by the TPS change.

“While the Trump regime works to tear families apart, Connecticut is stepping up to hold them together. This money goes directly to the people who need it: immigrants who were working, paying taxes, and building lives here until this administration pulled the rug out from under them,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff.

The $5 million investment will be administered by the state Department of Social Services and will help individuals access critical services and maintain stability amid uncertain times.

As many as 5,000 Haitians living in Connecticut are believed to have lost work authorizations under the TPS change. Nursing homes across Connecticut have lost up to 100 workers when it took effect, CT Insider reported. Some facilities lost as many as six employees in one day.

By Joe O’Leary