‘He was a lifeline’ – Families at a loss after Haitian caregivers let go in US

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‘He was a lifeline’ – Families at a loss after Haitian caregivers let go in US

BBC World · 1 day ago

A Long Island mother-of-two has described her disabled son's Haitian carer as "a lifeline" after he was laid off when the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, forcing employers across the US care sector to dismiss staff who can no longer legally work. Linda Mancuso's 23-year-old nonverbal son Michael relies on round-the-clock support with basic tasks, and losing his carer, Jean, has left the family anxious and searching for stability, illustrating the wider disruption rippling through America's already understaffed care industry.

The US Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration, clearing the way for around 350,000 Haitians to lose TPS protections at the end of July, part of a broader immigration crackdown that has stripped status from recipients of more than a dozen countries. Jean was among 19 Haitian staff let go by nonprofit AHRC Nassau, which lost 22 similarly in the prior year; its chief executive says replacing trained carers takes months amid competition from other low-wage employers. Industry figures note Haiti is among the top five source countries for America's direct-care workforce, and advocates warn the losses will deepen existing staff shortages and waiting lists, while the Department of Homeland Security maintains TPS was always meant to be temporary.

  • Trump ended Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians in the US.
  • Care homes and disability services lost trained Haitian staff overnight.
  • Families like the Mancusos say vital carers are now irreplaceable.

Americas World

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