Nicole Malliotakis

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis voted to restore temporary protections for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals legally residing in the United States, a move supported by local health care providers and business owners who say the workers are essential to addressing critical staffing shortages.

The vote follows the Trump administration’s termination of the Temporary Protected Status program, which has been stalled pending legal challenges. After the administration lost two consecutive rounds in court, the case is now pending appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Temporary Protected Status holders must continuously meet eligibility requirements, including being “admissible” and not having disqualifying criminal issues. About 80% of holders work in the health care and hospitality industries, while the remaining 20% are mostly students, children, or retired seniors.

“We’ve heard from nursing homes in our district that will lose skilled and dedicated nursing staff if TPS is not renewed,” Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and South Brooklyn, said. “These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a health care need. At a time when our health care system continues to face workforce shortages, their role is more important than ever.”

Malliotakis was one of 10 Republicans in the House of Representatives who voted to extend temporary protected status for Haitian migrants through 2029, according to NPR. The bill, which passed 224-204, now heads to the Senate.

Local health care organizations warned of immediate consequences if protections lapse. Scott LaRue, president and CEO of ArchCare, which operates Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Dongan Hills and Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Egbertville, said his organization has already lost more than 15 qualified caregivers on Staten Island recently because their status was allowed to lapse.

“Our nursing homes are already facing a historic labor crisis, and the failure to extend TPS is making it impossible for providers like ArchCare to retain staff,” LaRue said.

“We need an immediate resolution to stop this bleeding of talent before patient care is further compromised,” he added.

Anthony C. Ferreri, presidential appointee as regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during President Donald Trump’s first term and former president and CEO of Staten Island University Hospital, said Haitian immigrants have helped fill critical gaps in hospital staffing.

“Following training and licensing in the United States, Haitian immigrants, through their devoted efforts and dedicated service, have greatly helped fill gaps and reduce staffing shortages that would otherwise have hindered hospitals’ abilities to provide care,” Ferreri said.

The hospitality industry also expressed support for the extension. Richard and Lois Nicotra, owners of Staten Island’s Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn hotels in Bloomfield, said losing workers with temporary status would have a devastating effect on their business.

“The fact is, it is difficult to hire people who want to clean guest rooms, wash dishes, clean pots, landscape our properties and prep food for our kitchens,” the Nicotras said. “We need the immigrants to run our businesses. Our grandparents were immigrants, which became the foundation for our success. These people just want to work hard and fulfill the American dream.”