New York, NY — Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the New York Immigration Coalition, and other immigrant advocates on Thursday, June 26th to condemn the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump Administration to move forward with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 380,000 Haitian and Syrian nationals.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe allows the federal administration to move forward with ending TPS protections for thousands of Haitian and Syrian nationals who fled war, political persecution, humanitarian crises, and other life-threatening conditions in search of safety and stability. The ruling places tens of thousands of longtime New Yorkers—including frontline healthcare workers—at risk of losing their work authorization and facing deportation to countries that remain unsafe.

Assemblywoman Solages, the first Haitian American elected to the New York State Legislature, stood alongside labor leaders, immigrant advocates, and elected officials in calling on Congress to provide permanent protections for TPS holders and safeguard New York’s families, workforce, and economy.

“The Supreme Court’s inhumane decision will have real consequences across our state and our country. Thousands of Haitian New Yorkers have built their lives here. These individuals work in our hospitals, bolster our economy by opening small businesses, and contribute to the cultural fabric of our region. We are talking about our neighbors, our coworkers and friends. Our children play with their children. They take care of our ill. Haiti remains gripped by extraordinary violence and instability. It is beyond dangerous to force people to return to these conditions.

We cannot turn our backs on people who have followed the law and contributed to our communities. That simply is not who we are as a State. I will continue fighting alongside our federal partners for a solution that protects these families and reflects both our true values, not the cruel political machinations of the federal government.” said Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages.

The coalition gathered to condemn the decision and urge Congress to act with urgency to establish permanent protections for TPS holders.

“This ruling is a moral failure that will have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of law-abiding families and the neighborhoods in which they live. Nursing home residents will lose their aides, homecare clients will lose their caregivers, hospital patients will lose trusted and experienced staff. Innocent children and families will be forced out of communities they have grown up in,” said Yvonne Armstrong, president of 1199SEIU–which is the nation’s largest healthcare union. “The vilification of immigrants is one of the oldest tricks in the authoritarian playbook. 1199SEIU stands committed to fighting these injustices—which pit working people against each other and harm all of us— and will continue to organize in defense of our families and neighbors, for our constitutional rights, and in solidarity with immigrant communities.”

Armstrong added, “Here in New York City, over half of all healthcare workers are immigrants. Three out of every four homecare workers are immigrants. Across the country, 50,000 immigrant healthcare workers are on protected status. More than 20% of Haitian Americans work in the field of healthcare. Without immigrants, our healthcare system would fall apart!”

“The Supreme Court has again allowed the Trump Administration to violate the law, now and in the future, when trying to end Temporary Protected Status. The racial animus was clear and clearly documented by the court’s dissenting justices. For decades, Temporary Protected Status has provided safety to people who cannot return home because of war, political instability, natural disasters, and other extraordinary conditions. This decision is a tragedy for hundreds of thousands of families. Our Haitian and Syrian neighbors with TPS face imminent loss of status, and this decision weakens protections for 1.3 million TPS holders from all countries nationally. Parents will be separated from their children, longtime residents will lose the livelihoods they have spent years building, and people who have contributed to this country for decades will be forced back to dangerous and unstable conditions. Our nation’s executive and judicial branches have chosen cruelty. Today’s decision undermines both our obligations to those fleeing for their lives and undermines the safeguards Congress established to protect them. Congress has the ability to undo this decision, and it must act,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.

“I join with our partners here today to express outrage and grief at the Supreme Court’s decision giving the Trump Administration unchecked power to upend the lives of TPS recipients. Over 98,000 New Yorkers are TPS holders,” said Roxanna Rivera, Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU. “These are people – New Yorkers – who have come to this state to find a better life, people who have been contributing to this state and nation for years, many for decades. This action by the Supreme Court puts in jeopardy residents’ basic right to work and have a job. It is an attack on the almost 1.6 million workers across our country who hold TPS status today – and on their workplaces. We urge the administration to immediately reverse course and restore TPS protections for Haitians, Syrians and others, to keep families together and safe. We also urge members of Congress to immediately support legislation, such as Senator Padilla’s registry bill (S. 2468), that provides a path to permanent residence and citizenship to long-term residents. And we do this while continuing to decry the injustice of this decision.”

“This ruling feeds a mass deportation agenda on the backs of the home health aides and frontline workers who cared for New York. To New York TPS holders: Nothing changes today; you keep your status and your work authorization. The Court can hide behind procedure — our elected representatives cannot. Standing with 1199SEIU, we say it plainly: birthright, TPS, and DACA are one fight for the same families, and Congress must act now to deliver a permanent pathway to citizenship,” said Carolyn Tran, Executive Director of Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP).

“Haitian immigrants have been part of the fabric of this country. We are the backbone of entire industries. We are raising U.S. citizen children, caring for the elderly, working long hours in hospitals and schools, and organizing for the rights of all refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. We have paid taxes, contributed to our communities, rebuilt towns and fought for justice. Our lives are here. Ending TPS and intentionally putting entire communities in harm’s way demonstrates just how morally bankrupt and profoundly cruel this administration and all those upholding their policies are,” said Aline Gue, Executive Director of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees.

“Today’s ruling brings mixed emotions. As we celebrate the birthright victory, we mourn the court’s decision on Temporary Protected Status. This decision threatens the stability, safety, and dignity of mixed status families across America. This fight will continue, and it is even more urgent for Congress to advance a lasting solution that protects our communities permanently and offers a pathway to citizenship,” said Mamta Gurung Nyangmi, Interim Executive Director of Adhikaar for Human Rights & Social Justice.

“Regardless of what Trump and the Supreme Court have to say, Brooklyn is extremely proud to be home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the country. They have planted roots in our borough, shaped our culture, and uplifted our economy. This ruling from a politically compromised Supreme Court seeks to unleash a humanitarian crisis by placing hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian TPS recipients at risk of deportation to countries plagued by violence and political instability. But New York will never waver in its commitment to protecting our immigrant neighbors, and we will continue fighting for permanent protections and stronger pathways to citizenship,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.