Overview:
As uncertainty continues over the way forward for Momentary Protected Standing for Haitians, New York State and Metropolis officers, joined by neighborhood leaders, are shifting to guard affected residents from deportation by expanded authorized assist, legislative motion and public assets. Metropolis officers are reaffirming sanctuary protections and entry to well being and emergency providers no matter immigration standing, whereas connecting Haitian TPS holders with authorized counsel and know-your-rights data.
BROOKLYN — In response to a neighborhood so confused by the uncertainty surrounding Momentary Protected Standing (TPS) for Haitians the place no less than two folks fearing immigration enforcement have died by suicide, New York state and metropolis officers, at the side of neighborhood teams, are shifting on a number of fronts to make sure affected residents have entry to authorized, well being and emotional assist.
From Metropolis Corridor to Albany to Washington, leaders stated at a information convention on Wednesday and thru press statements that they’re decided to guard Haitian TPS holders from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers — whereas pursuing authorized and legislative paths to make the immigrants’ standing everlasting.
“You aren’t alone,” stated NYC Councilmember Farah Louis, echoing a key message heard throughout the press convention.“Don’t self-deport and should not have concern.”
Louis, who relayed information of the suicides, and different leaders held the information convention two days after a federal decide stopped the termination of the Haiti TPS program that has allowed about 350,000 Haitians to dwell and work legally within the U.S., whereas litigation is pending. Although the decide’s choice supplies sole aid, many new questions have been raised and folks proceed to concern ICE.
Inside Lifetime of Hope’s places of work in East Flatbush Wednesday, the audio system introduced with them an array of brochures and fliers with the names and phone data for numerous city- and state-sponsored applications. They urged households to hunt assist from organizations, for the whole lot from submitting paperwork to grant guardianship if dad and mom and their kids have been to be separated and defending monetary property comparable to their enterprise financial institution accounts in case of deportation.
Nadine, a Haitian TPS holder who was listening to the audio system, shared that she was questioning if her standing is ample to work. The Haitian Instances is withholding Nadine’s final title to keep away from adversely affecting her immigration case.
“I have to go to work and I don’t know what to do,” she stated. She discovered in regards to the assets out there to her throughout the 2-hour occasion.
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Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances -
Organizers displayed some assets out there to Haitian immigrants dealing with uncertainty, together with the household planning worksheets, throughout the information convention at Lifetime of Hope on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photograph by Loretta Chin / Haitian Instances
Metropolis pushes immigrant assist hotline, different assets
In New York Metropolis, officers are emphasizing that sanctuary metropolis legal guidelines stay in impact, even amid heightened federal immigration enforcement exercise. Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Workplace of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), stated Haitian TPS holders and different immigrants can proceed to entry important providers with out concern.
“Folks have entry to providers no matter immigration standing,” Castro stated in an interview with The Haitian Instances after the occasion. “They need to proceed to entry well being providers, our native hospital system, name 911, and use every other metropolis providers with out concern of deportation.
“We’re reaching out to attorneys so folks know what to do in the event that they’re confronted by an ICE agent,” Castro added. “They’ve loads of rights, and folks want individualized steering, not rumors or dangerous recommendation.”
Castro acknowledged, nonetheless, that sanctuary legal guidelines don’t forestall Immigration and ICE from working within the metropolis. As experiences of elevated ICE presence flow into, MOIA has centered on training and preparedness, connecting residents with attorneys and know-your-rights data.
To succeed in immigrants who is probably not linked to advocacy teams or elected officers, town has expanded partnerships with nonprofits comparable to HAUP and Life of Hope and public establishments, together with the New York Metropolis Public Library. English and language courses supplied at greater than 60 library branches additionally function factors of knowledge sharing.
Citywide, residents can name 311 to entry immigration-related steering and referrals.
In all, the present of assist emphasizes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s message to Haitians on Monday that he stands with the neighborhood.
The borough presidents of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens despatched a joint letter this week urging Albany to move the New York For All Act and the Access to Representation Act, which might restrict cooperation with ICE and assure authorized illustration for immigrants dealing with deportation.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso known as for congressional motion throughout his remarks on Wednesday. “Ought to the situations of the nation the place you’re coming from not enhance, we must always have a path to authorized citizenship for these on TPS,” he stated.
State officers launch ICE remark unit
On the state stage, James not too long ago introduced the launch of a Legal Observation Project, a brand new initiative designed to watch and doc federal immigration enforcement exercise throughout New York. The mission will deploy educated authorized observers to places the place enforcement actions or associated protests are reported, serving as impartial witnesses and preserving data that might inform future authorized motion.
James can be urging New Yorkers to submit movies or documentation of immigration enforcement exercise by a safe on-line portal, including one other layer of oversight and assist for impacted communities.
In the meantime, stress is constructing in Albany to move laws that might additional restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and assure authorized illustration for immigrants dealing with deportation with the New York For All Act and the Entry to Illustration Act.
In search of permanence and stability in D.C.
On the federal stage, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer pointed to a latest court docket choice blocking the Trump administration’s effort to finish TPS for Haitians as solely a short lived reprieve. He reiterated his assist for the SECURE Act, which might enable long-term TPS holders to use for everlasting authorized standing.
“Haiti continues to be harmful and unstable,” Schumer stated in a press release to The Haitian Instances. “We should do extra to oppose this administration whereas they proceed to focus on and assault our neighbors. Till Haitians can return house safely and the gangs’ reign of terror subsides, I’ll maintain preventing to permit them to stay right here out of hurt’s means.”
For metropolis and state officers, the message is constant: whereas courts and Congress debate the way forward for TPS, New York is stepping up with assets, authorized protections, and public assist to assist Haitian households climate the uncertainty—and to clarify they aren’t dealing with it alone.