ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost is pushing for action from lawmakers after the Supreme Court issued a ruling to allow the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disasters in Haiti and Syria.
At a news conference on Friday, Frost, D-Orlando, was joined by members of the Haitian community and called the 6-3 decision devastating for families.
“The Trump administration is knowingly sending people back to places where they face violence, instability and displacement,” Frost said. “For many, this is quite literally a matter of life and death.”
The United States first granted protections to Haitians in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and extended them multiple times amid ongoing gang violence.
With the Supreme Court’s decision affecting around 350,000 Haitian immigrants, Frost said there will be an effect felt across Central Florida.
“Haitians make up a significant share of healthcare workers, including many caregivers who are looking after our seniors,” Frost said. “This will shape not just that industry, but the hospitality industry and small businesses.”
With the possibility of temporary protection status for Haiti and Syria ending July 1, Frost also called on the Senate to approve a bipartisan bill that would extend TPS for Haitians.
“We will continue to be relentless in pushing to protect TPS and not just for Haiti, but for Syria...and all the countries that have TPS,” Frost said.
As the temporary protection status of Haitians and Syrians is being called into question, free legal services are being offered for people affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
Those impacted are urged to visit the Haitian Lawyers Association.