Officials ramp up advocacy to protect Haiti TPS, but some in community call for more outreach

NEW YORK— New York’s Haitian American politicians are protesting against the federal government’s decision to accelerate the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. At the same time, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is pressing Congress to act, sending a letter urging the Biden administration to extend protections. However, some in the Haitian community remain in the dark about the resources available to them.

The pushback comes as Haitian TPS holders, many of whom have lived and worked legally in the U.S. for years, face uncertainty with the looming Aug. 3 expiration. The decision, which speeds up the end of TPS for over a half-million people, has triggered a wave of advocacy from New York politicians, legal groups, and community members who see the move as both unjust and destabilizing.

‘Stand up, fight back’— officials speak out against TPS rollback

“Stand up, fight back!” was the rallying cry at the Feb. 27 protest outside City Hall, where local officials and advocates denounced the administration’s decision.

“We will not remain silent while Haitian families are being threatened,” said District 45 Council Member Farah Louis, calling the move “misguided” and a disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Louis, who represents one of New York’s largest Haitian American communities, has been urging a push to pressure Congress into reversing the decision.

On March 6, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick—the only Haitian American in Congress—sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging them to extend TPS for Haitians. The letter, co-signed by 38 members of Congress, highlights the economic contributions of TPS holders, who collectively pay $2.3 billion in federal taxes and $1.3 billion in state and local taxes annually.

“Across the country, [Haitians with TPS] have strengthened our workforce, supporting our airports, hospitals, small businesses, and schools,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote, warning that “the mass exodus of half a million workers will jeopardize our national security and significantly affect the economies of numerous communities nationwide.”

The congresswoman has also co-sponsored H.R. 1689, a bill that would mandate TPS designation for Haitian nationals. However, with a Republican-controlled House, the bill faces steep opposition.

Legal battles and community response

Multiple lawsuits have been filed to challenge the administration’s TPS rollback, which affected both Haitian and Venezuelan TPS holders. In Massachusetts, Haitian Americans United Inc, UndocuBlack Network, and other immigrant rights groups joined four individuals in suing the federal government. In California, the National TPS Alliance and eight Venezuelan TPS holders have also filed suit, while a Maryland case argues that the termination of TPS for Venezuelans was racially motivated.

At the local level, Haitian American elected officials are taking action by increasing immigration services, funding legal aid organizations, and launching community education campaigns.

District 40 Council Member Rita Joseph, in a separate interview, emphasized the need for unity and sustained advocacy.

“We’ll keep doing advocacy with community members, nonprofit organizations, and pushing on our elected colleagues on both aisles, whether they are Republicans or Democrats,” Joseph said. “We must be lock-stepped together in order for us to succeed.”

She and other members of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

“We should use our legal resources and we should also have pressure on the federal electeds by having community members call the office and say, ‘Hey, you have an election in 2026—if you want my support, I need you to have TPS back on for the Haitian people,’” Joseph said.

A disconnect between officials and the community

Despite the advocacy efforts, some Haitian American community members have told The Haitian Times they feel disconnected from what local politicians are doing in response to fears over TPS. 

E.J., who is being referred to by his initials due to concerns of retribution, and manager of Good Taste Restaurant in Flatlands, sees firsthand how fear over TPS has impacted the Haitian community. His restaurant, which serves about 400 mostly Haitian American customers daily, is a block away from District 40 Council Member Mercedes Narcisse’s office—yet he’s unaware of some of the legal resources available there.

“Yes, it’s the right thing to do right now,” said E.J. when told how some politicians are fighting the federal decision on TPS.

 “We got to push for it. We got to protest. We got to fight for it,” he said. 

“People got to come out, but they’re afraid.”

E.J. told The Haitian Times he doesn’t like to watch the news because it’s too stressful and most people like him don’t really know what’s going on. He hasn’t attended any protests simply because he doesn’t know when they happen.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know when they have them,” he said.

When he learned that elected officials provide legal aid in their offices, he was surprised.

“Really, they have lawyers there too?” he said. “They should come inside and drop like a couple of flyers. That’s how we could know what’s going on.”

Narcisse’s office provides constituents with access to immigration attorneys through a partnership with CUNY Law.

“The most direct way we’ve assisted constituents is by ensuring those affected by the termination of TPS receive legal guidance and support,” said Narcisse’s communications director, Frank Shea. In a similar vein, Louis’ office has been funding legal aid groups and Know Your Rights workshops, with Louis’ office pointing to the funding they’ve given to groups like CUNY Citizenship NOW and emphasizing the City Council’s oversight role in preventing federal immigration officials from collaborating with local law enforcement.

For E.J., communication is key. He urged community members to visit their representatives and demand action.

“The only thing we can do is tell them what they need to do to work for us,” he said. “They’re the ones who have the power to do what we hired them to do.”

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Officials ramp up advocacy to protect Haiti TPS, but some in community call for more outreach was first posted on March 10, 2025 at 2:11 pm.