April 20, 2026 · Updated April 20, 2026
Rep. Anthony Gillen and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Nassau County advocates in a rally for Haitian Americans whose Temporary Protected Status faces federal termination. With Long Island home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the Northeast, the stakes for towns like Hempstead, Freeport, and Valley Stream couldn't be higher.
Rep. Anthony Gillen and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined advocates in Nassau County this month to push back against federal moves to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. Long Island is home to one of the largest Haitian-American communities in the Northeast, concentrated in Hempstead, Freeport, and Valley Stream — and thousands of families here are watching this fight closely.
Temporary Protected Status is a federal immigration designation that grants people from countries experiencing crisis the legal right to live and work in the United States. For Haitians on Long Island, TPS has been a lifeline since the catastrophic 2010 earthquake.
The Nassau County rally drew a crowd of community members, faith leaders, legal aid advocates, and elected officials. Rep. Gillen and Minority Leader Jeffries stood alongside Haitian-American residents and spoke directly to what federal TPS termination would mean at the local level.
Long Island's Haitian-American population is among the largest outside of Miami-Dade County. In Hempstead, Haitian-owned businesses line several commercial corridors. In Freeport and Valley Stream, Haitian families have become pillars of the school systems, faith communities, and neighborhood associations.
Local immigrant advocacy groups are pushing for TPS extended for Haiti in the short term, and a pathway to permanent legal status for long-term TPS holders in the longer term.
The legislative path forward is uncertain. If you or someone you know needs TPS information or legal assistance, the Immigration Advocates Network's legal aid finder is a solid starting point. The USCIS TPS page has the most current information.
