The School District of Palm Beach County confirmed 19 district employees will be separated from employment as all school district employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Chuck Ridley, director of civic engagement for the Service Employees International Union, said the union expects hundreds of workers statewide to be affected, with nearly 20 employees in the Palm Beach County School District alone.
Ridley said many of the workers losing TPS protections are bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, food service employees and city workers. He warned that without drivers to pick up students or workers to provide public services, residents will see disruptions in schools, garbage collection and other city functions.
The healthcare system could also face staffing shortages, particularly in hospitals and nursing homes that rely heavily on immigrant workers.
The Florida Healthcare Association said Haitian caregivers are valued members of the long term care workforce, serving as certified nursing assistants, nurses, dietary aides, housekeepers and other essential team members. The association said a disruption to experienced staff could create additional challenges to long term care centers focused on supporting the needs of residents, families and care teams. According to the Lar Management Group, the Haitian community contributes an estimated $1.2 billion to Florida's economy.