Elected Officials, Faith Leaders, and Advocates Rally to Protect Brooklyn’s Haitian Community Against Threats of Deportation
Brooklyn is Among the Largest Haitian Communities in the United States
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Brooklyn, NY –Today, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosted a rally in Flatbush’s Little Haiti alongside advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials in solidarity with Haitian immigrants. The rally took place days before the Trump administration initially sought to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an estimated 500,000 Haitians who lack permanent legal status, a move that would revoke their work authorization and protection from deportation.
“In Brooklyn, when you come for one of us, you come for all of us,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Our neighbors from Haiti came here in need of refuge from an intense string of disaster, crisis, and political instability, and we stand proudly by their side in calling for an end to the Trump administration’s effort to revoke TPS for Haiti. TPS for Haiti has allowed thousands of Haitian immigrants to find a new beginning in our borough, and Brooklyn is better for it. The Haitian community will always have a home here.”
TPS allows immigrants from designated countries experiencing turmoil to legally live and work in the United States. Haiti was initially conferred TPS status in response to the catastrophic earthquake that devastated the country in January 2010, killing more than 300,000 people and displacing more than 1.5 million. Since then, TPS for Haiti has been redesignated and extended under multiple administrations because of additional natural disasters, public health crises, and political instability.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would terminate Haiti’s TPS status effective September 2, 2025. Following a lawsuit from the Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association, whose leadership spoke at today’s rally, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York temporarily extended TPS for Haitians until February 2026. TPS’s uncertain future has caused confusion and anxiety for TPS recipients who are now in legal limbo. With more than 150,000 Haitian residents in New York City, most of whom live in Flatbush, Brooklyn is particularly vulnerable to the economic and cultural impact of this decision. In neighborhoods like Little Haiti, Haitian immigrants have put down roots and built vibrant, multigenerational communities. The revocation of TPS threatens to split up families with mixed-legal status and upend local economies.
“Brooklyn’s Haitian community is deeply rooted and plays an integral part to the borough—from educators and healthcare professionals to small business owners and essential workers. Stripping TPS would jeopardize these contributions and destabilize countless lives,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. “TPS holders often have U.S.-born children and interwoven family networks. Revoking their legal protections could fracture homes, schools, and community institutions, creating widespread hardship. Deportations would impact local economies—labor forces, neighborhoods, and small businesses would feel the strain. TPS holders contribute significantly through taxes, commerce, and community engagement, and sending them back into an unsafe and unstable environment could have disastrous consequences—becoming a life-or-death situation for many Haitians in Brooklyn and across this nation.”
“The cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti is another move in Donald Trump’s racist and xenophobic mass deportation agenda,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “This catastrophic decision strips more than 500,000 people across the country of work authorization and protection from deportation, including thousands in New York City—home to the second-largest population of Haitians in the U.S. While advocates continue to fight these terminations in court, it is our duty as elected officials to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that New Yorkers have access to the legal services and assistance needed to defend themselves against these cruel policies.”
“Brooklyn will never stay silent while our immigrant neighbors are under attack by the Trump administration. ICE is tearing our communities apart, and now more than ever, we must fight relentlessly to protect Haitian immigrants in this city. I’m proud to stand with the Brooklyn Borough President and fellow Brooklyn leaders in rejecting anti-immigrant policies and defending the dignity of every New Yorker,” said Council Member Chi Ossé.
“Ending TPS would rip apart Haitian families and devastate neighborhoods that rely on the workers who care for our loved ones in hospitals, build our homes, and support our small businesses. TPS is a legal, humanitarian program that allows people to live and work here with dignity. In fact, statistics show that TPS recipients are more likely to be employed than the general U.S. population, filling critical labor shortages in health care, construction, and service industries. These are people who did things the right way, and sending them back to Haiti, a country in crisis, would amount to a death sentence. We are stronger when we embrace our immigrant roots, not when we ignore them,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse.
“Our city is so strong, vibrant, and culturally impactful because of the immigrant communities that have made Brooklyn their own. That includes, in large part, Haitian immigrants who have thrived under temporary protective status—a protection that is meant to support those whose countries of origin are experiencing turmoil. Today, we are rallying in support of our Haitian neighbors and against the violence of the Trump administration’s deportation agenda. I will always fight for a Brooklyn that puts the needs of working people first and foremost. Threatening our immigrant communities hurts us all,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés.
“As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, I stand in full solidarity with our Haitian community against this cruel attempt to strip away Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS has allowed families to live with dignity, contribute to our economy, and strengthen neighborhoods like Little Haiti Brooklyn – home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the nation. Threatening hundreds of thousands of Haitians with deportation is not only inhumane; it is an attack on the cultural and economic fabric of New York City. I commend Borough President Reynoso for bringing us together in unity, and I will continue to fight alongside advocates and families to protect TPS and defend immigrant rights. We will not stand by as hundreds of thousands of Haitian communities are threatened with deportation!” said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
“The Trump administration has taken action to roll back TPS protections for Haitian immigrants, many of who have been living in New York for decades. This cruel and heartless action will threaten hundreds of thousands of hardworking people. As the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants and chair of the Assembly Task Force on New Americans, I am proud to stand with Borough President Reynoso and my other colleagues to fight back against these actions,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest.
“New York City is a better place because of the cultural and economic contributions of our Haitian immigrant community. Haitian New Yorkers own business, provide essential healthcare services, and enrich the cultural tapestry of our city. Our neighbors deserve stability and safety. The Trump administration’s deplorable decision to end TPS for Haiti is meant to destabilize and attack our communities. We call on Congress to act immediately to provide permanent protections for all TPS holders, and fight back against Trump’s attacks,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
“HAFFD is proud to stand with Borough President Antonio Reynoso and our elected leaders to defend Haitian families. Protecting TPS is a matter of justice and humanity,” said Jocelyn McCalla, Executive Director of the Haitian American Foundation for Democracy. “As long as Haiti faces a crisis, we will continue to use our advocacy arm to ensure our community is heard and protected. Brooklyn is the heart of the Haitian diaspora — when we speak together, America must listen.”
“Behind every TPS designation are mothers, fathers, children, and grandparents who simply want the chance to live in peace, work with dignity, and build a future without fear. At HAUP, we see every day the sacrifices and contributions of TPS holders, neighbors who care for our elders, teach our children, and keep our city thriving. To stand with them is to stand for the very soul of New York,” said Elsie Saint Louis, CEO, Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP).
“The Haitian community needs solidarity, investment, and a genuine TPS commitment for a sustainable future. TPS is more than a policy — it is a lifeline for countless families who deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. As Haitian Brooklynites, we must stand together in solidarity, ensuring our Haitian neighbors are protected, respected, and heard. We call on the American government to immediately reverse these life-altering actions and to prioritize policies that save lives, promote stability, and uphold our shared values of dignity and human rights,” said Porez Luxama, Executive Director of Life of Hope.
