Florida’s Republican nominee for governor, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, is defending the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians while saying Florida should rely more on its own workforce to fill jobs left open by the loss of TPS workers.
During an interview Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan asked Donalds about the roughly 158,000 Haitians who had been living legally in Florida under TPS before the program ended. She also pointed to the ongoing security and humanitarian conditions in Haiti and questioned how Florida would handle the loss of Haitian workers, particularly in healthcare.
Donalds argued that TPS was created as a temporary program and should not become permanent. He defended the Trump administration’s decision to end the protection and said the focus should now be on helping Haiti stabilize so people can eventually return home.
He also pointed to discussions he said he has had with Haiti’s transitional government and its ambassador. Donalds said Haitian authorities are working to strengthen security forces and regain control of areas affected by armed gangs.
The conversation then turned to Florida’s workforce.
Brennan asked Donalds whether there was a plan to replace the estimated 100,000 Haitians working in healthcare in Florida if they lose their legal status and are forced to leave the workforce.
Donalds did not outline a specific replacement plan for those Haitian healthcare workers. Instead, he pointed to his proposed Launchpad initiative, which would connect high school juniors and seniors with internships and apprenticeships so they can move directly into jobs after graduation.
He also called for expanded adult education and job-training programs to help Floridians move into fields where workers are needed, including healthcare.
The issue is particularly important for Florida, where Haitian TPS holders make up a significant part of the state’s legal immigrant workforce. About 158,000 Haitians in Florida had TPS, with the majority living in South Florida, according to figures cited by Al Jazeera from the Congressional Research Service.
Donalds’ comments come as the end of Haitian TPS continues to create uncertainty for families and employers. Healthcare providers and other organizations have warned that losing Haitian workers could make existing staffing shortages even harder to manage. Reuters recently reported that the TPS termination has already affected healthcare and caregiving workers in several states.
With Donalds now heading into the November governor’s race against Democrat David Jolly, his position on Haitian TPS is likely to remain a major issue—especially in South Florida, where Haiti’s diaspora has deep roots.
For Haitian families watching the election, the question is not only what happens to TPS, but also what Florida’s next governor plans to do about the workers, families and communities affected by the decision.
