The State of Florida is home to 300,000 people living under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and renewing their work permits is slow. Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) has introduced a bill streamlining the renewal process, allowing TPS holders to continue working legally without issue.
Currently, Temporary Protected Status allows people from countries such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and El Salvador to reside in the United States legally, as their countries are unsafe to return to. However, these individuals must separately apply for work permits and Employment Authorization Documents.
This creates an issue where the work permits can expire before the individual's TPS status does, leaving them unable to continue working while waiting for approval of their status.
As a result, Rep. Frost's bill seeks to remedy the problem by folding the renewal of work permits into TPS extensions, cutting red tape, and allowing TPS holders to continue working without worrying about losing their jobs.
The Florida Congressman announced the bill during an Orlando press conference, saying, "The nearly 300,000 folks living in Florida and the thousands living here in Orlando aren't just numbers and figures. They're human beings. They're parents, siblings, partners, children – all suffering because of the delays and red tape that constantly keeps them in the gray on their work status."
"We need Work Permit Reform now to help offer stability and peace of mind to thousands of families, workers, and employees living in a constant, unnecessary panic over their legal and working status in our country. These folks are here legally; they want to get to work, pay their fair share of taxes, and contribute to our society. We cannot stand in the way of that," Rep. Frost added.
In March, Frost called for the redesignation of Haitians as eligible for TPS as the government of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry collapsed under the weight of severe gang violence, causing thousands to flee the country.
"It’s our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with Haiti, provide humanitarian aid, help end the cycle of unrest, and support Haiti in its quest for autonomy and prosperity – which is why I continue to call for the re-designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians as the situation only worsens," Frost said in March.
