Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis voted on Apr. 16 to restore temporary protections for about 350,000 Haitian nationals legally residing in the United States. The vote comes after the Trump Administration ended the program, a decision that has been stalled by ongoing legal challenges and is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The issue is significant because many of those affected work in healthcare and hospitality, sectors currently experiencing workforce shortages. According to Malliotakis, “We’ve heard from nursing homes in our district that will lose skilled and dedicated nursing staff if TPS is not renewed. These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a healthcare need. At a time when our healthcare system continues to face workforce shortages, their role is more important than ever. To strip them of their status and deport them to a country in peril would be uncompassionate and misguided.”
Local leaders have expressed support for extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Anthony C. Ferreri said, “A vital and significant portion of that support has come from those who have emigrated from Haiti… extension of protective status allows for continued quality and safe staffing in acute care and extended care facilities.” Richard and Lois Nicotra stated, “Forcing people with temporary status who are working and filling an economic need to go back to their country will have a devastating effect on our business… we need the immigrants to run our businesses.” Scott LaRue added that ArchCare lost more than 15 qualified caregivers recently due to lapses in worker status.
Healthcare organizations also highlighted potential impacts on patient care if TPS protections end. Dr. Henry Thompson said his center supports extending TPS as an initial step toward permanent solutions for workforce challenges affecting health centers serving high-need areas.
Nicole Malliotakis has represented New York’s 11th Congressional District since 2021 after previously serving in the New York State Assembly from 2011 through 2021 according to her biography. She was born in New York City in 1980, lives on Staten Island according to Ballotpedia, graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then again from Wagner College as reported by Congress.gov.
Bea Grause thanked Malliotakis “for her vote yesterday in support of House legislation that would restore Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants,” noting this measure helps address severe workforce shortages across New York’s hospitals.
