UNITED STATES-Haitian group supports national day action demanding protection for TPS holders.

CALIFORNIA, CMC – The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has expressed support for the coordinated rallies held across the United States on Thursday, calling for the protection of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and other holders.

The National Day of Action came after the US Supreme Court, on June 25, issued a decision allowing the Trump administration to move forward with terminating TPS for 340,000 Haitian nationals and Syrians.

“From San Diego to Washington, D.C., from Florida to Boston, Americans are gathering peacefully in cities across the country to send a clear message: families who have built their lives, careers, and communities in the United States deserve stability, dignity, and protection—not fear and uncertainty,” HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

She said that the HBA had collaborated with the Common Defense Deported Veterans in San Diego in holding the first rally and that it “recognizes the tireless efforts of grassroots organizations, legal advocates, faith communities, labor unions, students, and local leaders who organized and are participating in today’s mobilizations.

“Their collective action demonstrates that support for immigrant communities extends far beyond any one city or state,” Jozef said.

Executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Tessa Petit, said that her organization hosted a rally at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami as part of the National Day of Action.

She said the rally was “to uplift the issue of TPS recipients” and to urge all US Senators to support Senate Bill 4814, which extends TPS for Haiti.

Petit said this is “to make sure that we get the commitment, that they understand the urgency and commit to voting yes on this.”

The New York-headquartered labor union 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East said on Friday that healthcare employers, frontline workers and patient advocates will “raise the alarm about the implications for New York’s healthcare workforce with the end of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on the horizon.”

The union – the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New York and nationwide, representing over 450,000 members throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. – said it will hold a rally at its midtown Manhattan headquarters.

“With at least 50,000 TPS holders working in healthcare in the US, the court’s 6-3 decision stripping these protections from tens of thousands could cause chaos in an industry already plagued with worker shortages,” it said in a statement.

In the meantime, New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert, warning Haitian and Syrian New Yorkers with TPS about potential immigration services scams and providing tips to protect New York families.

James said she is providing guidance to help TPS holders understand their legal options and protect themselves and their families from potential scams, reminding New Yorkers that advice for TPS holders is one and that all TPS holders should seek reliable counsel from a trusted source.

“Following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the federal government to end TPS for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, TPS holders in New York and nationwide are scrambling to find answers. Too often, bad actors can take advantage of increased fear and anxiety to scam immigrants and their families.

“I urge Congress to pass legislation to extend TPS, and, until then, I encourage all New Yorkers faced with losing TPS to follow our guidance, exercise caution, and seek competent advice they trust,” she added.

James said any change in immigration laws, regulations, or procedures, or even rumors or misinformation about potential changes, can lead to widespread fear and confusion that scammers easily exploit.

“Scammers may falsely claim to be associated with a reputable organization to gain your trust, even potentially generating fake websites or social media pages to appear legitimate. Contact the organization directly to confirm that the person is employed there.

“Do be cautious even when a friend or community member recommends someone. “Scammers have been known to trick people into believing they have obtained favorable results to get them to recommend the scammers to others,” she added.