Congressional candidates differ over looming end of Haitian TPS

The impending end of temporary protected status for Haitians in the U.S. is generating human and economic costs in South Florida — and carries potential political implications for the region’s congressional candidates.

President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered an end to TPS for Haitians, including an estimated 158,000 living in Florida. The deadline, originally set for Friday, was delayed for three days by an appeals court ruling late Thursday.

Unless there’s another extension, an estimated 93,000 Haitians working in the state — cooks and servers, agricultural workers, stockers, security guards and nursing assistants — will no longer be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

And they will be subject to deportation to Haiti, where much of the country is controlled by violent gangs — and a place the U.S. State Department considers so dangerous that it warns Americans not to travel there “for any reason due to the risk of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited health care.”

Given the large Haitian communities in North Miami, Miramar, Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach — plus Miami’s Little Haiti — the end of TPS is a significant regional political issue.

Partisan divide

South Florida’s current and would-be members of Congress, who have the greatest potential to influence the issue, are divided on the issue.

Democrats want TPS extended, and have warned about moral implications and the economic impact of ending the designation.

“TPS extension must be granted, not merely for the Haitian immigrants that are here, but for the American people. The economic impact is going to be severe on us,” said Dale Holness, a former Broward County commissioner and candidate in the 20th Congressional District Democratic primary. “You look at our hospitals, our hotels, our restaurants, in every facet of our lives, they’re working, and they’re paying taxes.”

And, Holness said in a recent interview, “the idea that you can send them back to a country that we’re saying Americans shouldn’t travel to? It’s crazy. … People are being killed in the streets. People are afraid for their lives.”

Republican congressional candidates, by contrast, are for the most part reluctant to deviate from Trump’s policy. Republican congressional hopefuls expressed varying degrees of support for ending TPS for Haitians — and for Venezuelans. Weston and Doral are home to many Venezuelans with TPS.

Republicans said they have faith in the Trump administration’s determination that Haiti is stable enough for people to be returned and don’t see economic downsides.

“Look, this world is tough. There’s no doubt about it. There’s conflict,” said Michael Thompson, a Republican candidate in the 22nd Congressional District. “But I think that we need to focus on making America greater and not necessarily worrying about tough living conditions for individuals that live in other countries.”

“We’ve provided them with an opportunity to come here with safe haven for many, many, many years. Now we can’t as a country just continue to allow that to happen,” Thompson said in response to a question about TPS for Haitians and Venezuelans. “I’m absolutely for sending both protective statuses back to their countries.”