Trump Ends TPS for Thousands of Families as Hochul Warns of Impact on NY

Kathy Hochul warns that hundreds of workers in New York could lose their jobs and that sectors such as healthcare and elder care could feel the consequences.

Kathy Hochul urged President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse the termination of temporary immigration protections for Haitians, Syrians, and other groups, warning that hundreds of essential workers in New York could lose their jobs as soon as next week.

• Why it matters: Hochul argues that the end of TPS could have consequences extending beyond immigrant families, potentially affecting essential services, jobs, and industries that depend on these workers.

Hochul Warns Essential Services Could Lose Workers as Trump Ends TPS

In a letter sent to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Hochul said state and local governments will have to terminate the employment of hundreds of essential workers once they lose their authorization to work.

The governor also warned that private businesses could face similar consequences.

• Who could be affected: Hochul specifically highlighted the healthcare sector and warned about potential consequences for older adults and other vulnerable residents who depend on these services.

“The abrupt removal of these members of our workforce and communities will disrupt critical services New Yorkers rely on,” Hochul wrote, according to the letter published by her office.

The governor called the White House decision to end TPS “reckless and inhumane” and urged the restoration of protections for people who cannot return to countries affected by violence, instability, or crises.

Trump Administration Says TPS Was Supposed to Be Temporary

The Department of Homeland Security defended a different position. Although it did not directly comment on Hochul’s letter, DHS maintained that Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS, was never intended to become a permanent form of protection.

• The dispute: DHS says the program operated for too long as “de facto amnesty,” even though Congress did not intend for it to become permanent.

TPS allows citizens of certain countries to remain temporarily in the United States when returning home would be unsafe because of armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

It also allows beneficiaries to obtain work authorization, but it does not provide permanent residency.

The Trump administration also maintains that the program was “exploited and abused” and has challenged extensions approved during the Biden administration.

More Than 350,000 Haitians Could Lose TPS Protection

The battle has also moved through the courts. In June, the Supreme Court allowed the termination of protections to move forward after federal judges had blocked actions by the administration.

More than 350,000 Haitians and approximately 6,100 Syrians were left at risk of losing these protections following court decisions related to TPS.

• By the numbers: The decisions affect hundreds of thousands of people who had been allowed to legally remain and work in the United States under the program.

New York is among the Democratic-led states that have attempted to block the termination of these protections.

Trump Ends TPS as Immigration Debate Reaches New York Jobs

Hochul’s warning puts the potential impact on employment at the center of a dispute that had previously focused largely on immigration and deportations.

Her argument is that taking work permits away from people who already hold essential jobs could have consequences for those who rely on their services, even if they have no direct connection to TPS.

• What’s next: Hochul says there is still time for the federal government to reverse course and has formally urged DHS to restore the protections.

The question now is whether the decision as Trump ends TPS will affect not only the families losing protection, but also the communities, employers, and essential services across New York that rely on their work.

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SOURCE: Governor Kathy Hochul / The Center Square