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On August 5, an estimated 100 -150 Haitian residents of New Rochelle lost their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which permitted them to live and work in the country legally. This resulted from a June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court giving President Trump the power to end TPS for immigrants from 13 countries.

New Rochelle has a Haitian population of 1,327, the largest Haitian community in Westchester County, which is home to 5,360 Haitians. They are among 333,000 Haitians in the United States affected by this policy change.

According to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, in addition to devastating  their lives, the potential deportation of these individuals will have an enormous negative impact on New York’s economy, and will overwhelm the health care industry where  many Haitians work in nursing and other health care professions.

On Saturday, August 15, a community gathering was held at the French Speaking Baptist Church of New Rochelle to help community members understand the impact of this change, and prepare for potentially life altering changes.  The primary speaker was Christine Fils-Aime, Director of Constituent Services and Community Affairs for New York State Senator Shelley Mayer. She also leads the Westchester Haitian Collective, which has created a guide for the Haitian community to help families prepare for the end of protected status. The Collective also helps provide food, school supplies, and other necessities. 

Fils-Aime shared that the New Rochelle police are not working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which was confirmed by City Councilmember Shane Osinloye. The Councilmember also recommended that individuals go to the City’s website for resources. The FAQ portion of the City’s website has links that include NYS government sites as well as links to ACLU and  Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Westchester County Human Rights Commission also has resources for dealing with ICE encounters, including guidance from the NYS Attorney General.

Fils-Aime stated that ICE personnel are not permitted to enter any state buildings or churches, schools, or homes without a signed judicial warrant.  She also advised attendees to call Senator Mayer’s office if they receive any “official” letter regarding their status to verify its authenticity. In addition, she suggested that each family plan for the “worst case” scenario, arranging for someone to take care of their homes and finances, and appointing guardians for their US born children. 

She also noted that there is a  federal bill that has passed the House of Representatives to extend TPS for three years, but it has not yet passed the Senate (S4814.) This bill is strongly supported by New York State legislators, as well as Governor Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James. 

On August 16, , Senator Mayer attended the General Membership meeting of the New Rochelle NAACP to discuss this issue. The Senator shared that the Haitian Bridge Alliance (619-693-8708) and Neighbor’s Link offer pro-bono legal support to residents who need assistance.  The New Rochelle NAACP president,  Aisha Cook, urges those who are able to donate to Haitian Bridge, Neighbor’s Link, and the Westchester Haitian Collective. Mayer also distributed the information cards below.

The City of New Rochelle is currently seeking  residents to join the Immigrants Affair Advisory Committee,  created by the City Council on April 21, 2020.  Responsibilities of the IAAC include making recommendations to the City Council and Administration regarding  actions, practices, and policies to address the concerns, needs, and interests of New Rochelle’s immigrant community. The IACC also facilitates constructive dialogue between New Rochelle’s immigrant community and decision-makers in local government.  Applications for this committee are due by September 11, 2026.   For more information, including how to apply to join this committee go to https://www.newrochelleny.gov/iaac.