TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association joined the National Restaurant Association and 11 other state hospitality associations to share impacts related to terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Haiti and Syria who are currently living and working in the United States.
Statement from FRLA President & CEO, Carol Dover:
“The Supreme Court’s decision has significant implications for the more than 93,000 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders who have built their lives in Florida, as well as for the hospitality and tourism businesses and communities that rely on their contributions. Together, these individuals contribute an estimated $2.6 billion annually to Florida’s economy, underscoring the far-reaching impact this decision could have across our state.
As employers work to understand the implications of this decision while continuing to serve millions of visitors during one of the busiest times of the year, our priority is ensuring they have the clarity, guidance, and reasonable transition time they need to comply with federal requirements while minimizing disruption for employees, business operations, and the communities they serve. We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside our national and state partners to advocate for practical solutions and will continue providing our members with timely information and resources as this situation evolves.”
History
On June 25, the Supreme Court (Mullin v. Doe) ruled that the Trump administration may proceed with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from Haiti and Syria. Lower courts had blocked those terminations — that protection is now gone, and the Court’s ruling makes future judicial intervention unlikely.
The practical deadline is immediate: work authorizations for Haitian and Syrian TPS holders are currently set to expire July 1 — three days before the holiday weekend, in the middle of the summer season. Initial indications do not suggest the Administration is looking to postpone. For states with significant Haitian TPS populations, this could mean the abrupt loss of a meaningful share of the local hospitality workforce with almost no runway.
The numbers are significant and the impacts will be significant across the U.S. – but none more significantly than in Florida. Florida alone has 93,000 TPS holders in the workforce who contribute $2.6 billion annually to the state economy.
This week, FRLA cosigned a letter with the National Restaurant Association and 11 other states to United States Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin with three asks:
1) A 90-to-120-day transition period before work authorizations end;
2) Clear USCIS guidance on reverification timelines and 1-9/E-Verify compliance; and
3) Good-faith protection for employers acting on existing guidance while awaiting updated post-decision instructions.
FRLA is actively working with federal and national partners to seek additional guidance and practical solutions for employers. The association will continue providing members with timely updates, compliance resources, and educational opportunities, as new information becomes available.
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents two million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.