New York City terminates Haitian municipal employees following TPS expiration

New York City is terminating the employment of Haitian municipal workers following the expiration of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and recent federal court rulings. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated the city was "forced by federal law, as recently decided by the Supreme Court, to review the work authorization of Haitian TPS holders" and separate from those who lack alternative legal work paths.

The termination follows a June Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe that lifted legal barriers to the Department of Homeland Security's termination of Haiti's TPS designation. A U.S. District Court order also removed a previous stay on the termination order, allowing the dismissal of workers to proceed. While exact figures are unavailable, city data from 2023 estimated nearly 7,000 Haitian-born residents work in local, state, or federal government positions.

Mayor Mamdani has called on President Donald Trump to restore TPS or grant Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to provide economic certainty and protect affected communities. The Mayor's office has offered free legal assistance to affected employees to help them navigate their options.