Thousands of Connecticut Haitians lose work authorization, leaving nursing homes scrambling
MANCHESTER — Thousands of Connecticut residents from Haiti who had been legally working in the United States under Temporary Protected Status lost that authorization this week, forcing many to stay home Tuesday and leaving nursing homes, construction companies and other employers scrambling to fill shifts as advocates warned of broader economic and humanitarian consequences.
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, speaking Tuesday outside Westside Care Center in Manchester, which lost employees because of the expiration, said the effects were being felt beyond the workers themselves.
"What this means for the people of Connecticut is that there are less people showing up to work today to care for your loved ones in facilities like this," Scanlon said. "There are less people showing up on the construction sites that are building new schools for your kids to go into."
An estimated 9,460 people with Temporary Protected Status live in Connecticut, according to a congressional report. Scanlon said roughly 5,000 Haitians in the state are believed to have lost work authorization, although officials are still working to determine an exact number.
The effects were immediate in Connecticut's healthcare system.
Up to 100 Haitian employees at skilled nursing homes across the state were no longer able to work Tuesday because of the expiration, according to Matt Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and the Connecticut Center for Assisted Living.
The affected workers include certified nursing assistants, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and housekeeping and dietary staff, Barrett said. One nursing home lost 13 employees.
Barrett said nursing facilities are filling the gaps, for now, with the staff they have, but that's not sustainable. Connecticut already faces a well-documented shortage of healthcare workers, making it difficult to replace employees who suddenly can no longer work.
Barrett said the staffing losses are expected to worsen delays in transferring patients from hospitals to nursing homes, a longstanding problem in Connecticut, while disrupting continuity of care for residents.
State Sen. Dr. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, said fewer caregivers could ultimately lead to more infections, more complications and additional strain on hospitals that are already overwhelmed.
Temporary Protected Status allows people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States for designated periods.
The Trump administration moved to end TPS protections for Haiti and several other countries, prompting months of litigation. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the administration could proceed while the underlying legal challenge continues. After several temporary extensions, the latest work authorization expired Monday.
Advocates argue the decision comes even though conditions in Haiti remain dangerous. The U.S. State Department continues to classify the country as a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" destination, its highest travel advisory.
Stephanie Deceus, vice president of SEIU District 1199 New England, said fear within Connecticut's Haitian community has intensified as the legal challenges have played out.
Many families are uncertain how they will support themselves without jobs, she said, while others are afraid to leave their homes because they fear immigration enforcement.
"These are not just numbers in a workforce report," Deceus said. "These are people. These are real people, real families. These are homeowners with longstanding ties to our community. These are caregivers that our community depends on every single day. They have built their lives here. They raise families here. They care for our loved ones here."
SEIU officials estimate several dozen union members across Connecticut were unable to report to work Tuesday because of the TPS expiration. Some facilities lost as many as six employees, according to the union.
Despite the expiration, advocates and lawmakers said efforts to restore TPS protections will continue.
Scanlon said bipartisan legislation extending Temporary Protected Status has passed the House and awaits action in the Senate. Separately, a coalition of 50 lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, has introduced the Temporary Protected Status Review Act, which would establish additional protections for TPS recipients.
Dana Bucin, an immigration attorney with Harris Beach Murtha, said some TPS holders may qualify for other forms of immigration relief, including asylum or military parole in certain circumstances. She urged anyone affected to consult a licensed immigration attorney and to be cautious of scammers exploiting the uncertainty.
“It's all individualized, and it's based on getting to an immigration lawyer and getting assessed for what is there before ICE enforcement occurs, which we know it will occur if things don't change,” Bucin said.
Minister, licensed therapist and Haitian immigrant Amos Lys said the current situation underscores the need for a permanent pathway for longtime TPS holders who have built lives in the United States.
“I know every country has the right to take care of their immigration law, but it has to make sense,” Lys said. “It has to be human. It has to be compassionate.”