At least 5,000 Haitian immigrants in New York City — and roughly 300,000 across the country — have lost their ability to work legally in the U.S. after the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. Businesses that depended on those workers are now struggling to stay open.
Wesly Simon, who owns a popular Haitian restaurant in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, told Scripps News he was forced to fire longtime workers after the TPS designation ended.
“It’s like I’m firing the whole family,” Simon said. “I’m firing the kids, I’m firing their wife. I’m firing them.”
The impact of the decision extends beyond his workforce. Haitian immigrants across the country now weigh every trip outside against the risk of deportation, keeping customers home and away from businesses like his.
“They’re just in limbo, working around, whatever, living on their savings,” Simon said about his former employees. “Now, some of them never go out.”
Simon said the situation is more damaging for business than the COVID-19 pandemic, which is when he opened his restaurant.
“This is actually worse than COVID. COVID we have the stimulus. There’s no stimulus. The business is not getting employee retention,” Simon said.
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