“This is New York. We fight back. We defend our people.”
Those were fighting words from Gov. Kathy Hochul and elected officials in Midtown Thursday, denouncing the Supreme Court’s ruling that ends temporary protected status or TPS for 350,000 Haitians and over 6,000 Syrians living in the U.S.
What You Need To Know
40,000 New Yorkers will lose temporary protected status, or TPS, due to the 6-3 Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe
Many Haitians who were granted protection are healthcare workers and Gov. Kathy Hochul said the loss could cripple the local healthcare system
Officials are urging immigrants who will lose their status in about 30 days to seek legal counsel and that because of state and city laws, to not be afraid to send their children to school or seek medical care
“For anyone feeling alone and afraid today, I want to be clear: New York City is your home no matter what this decision brings in the weeks to come you are not going to face this alone,” said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The 6-3 decision does not take effect for more than 30 days, and officials are telling those affected by it not to be afraid but to seek legal counsel. Many who gathered called the decision dangerous on many levels. Council Member Mercedes Narcisse — a Haitian immigrant herself — said those in her community in Little Haiti are here seeking a better life.
“The same government that tells me that it is too dangerous to set foot in Haiti just told 350,000 Haitians that they have to go back there anyway, even to their death sentence,” said Narcisse, who is also a nurse, as are many Haitians.
“The Supreme Court withdrawing these rights, I’m telling you, is going to cripple our health care system, cripple our health care system,” said Hochul. “Because so many of them are hardworking union members. Who’s going to show up tomorrow to take care of grandma.”
“More than 40,000 New Yorkers who contribute more than 1.1 billion annually to New York’s economy,” said Murad Awawdeh, the president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “Most troubling of all is that this ruling opens the door for more terminations and to allow for the dismantlement of TPS into the future.”
The Department of Homeland Security calls the ruling a win for the rule of law and common sense. But this is not the first time President Donald Trump has targeted Haitian immigrants — he and Vice President Vance claimed those living in Ohio were eating neighbors’ pets.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said the reason behind the president’s policy is not about making the country safer.
“This is about policies based in hatred,” said Williams. “He is doing that because his policies are based on treating people like they are not human beings particularly if they’re Black and brown.”
Mamdani said those affected should reach out to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) for legal referrals. He and the governor reminded those who are affected that they will be protected, whether it’s seeking medical care or sending their children to school.