Stenley Mondestin, executive director of The Route, a Haitian immigrant advocacy group based in Louisville, said many are working, paying taxes, and contributing to the growth of the economy.
"They contribute immensely to the point that even some of the businesses were worried about their workers," Mondestin explained. "Some reached out requesting how they could help in case something happened."
The federal judge wrote that the administration’s cancellation attempt ignored the billions of dollars Haitian Temporary Protected Status holders contribute to the nation’s economy. Haitian immigrants are the crux of the workforce in meatpacking plants across the country, according to CivilEats.
Mondestin noted that a significant number of Haitians work at the JBS-Swift pork processing plant in Louisville. He added that many families remain on edge but are hopeful they can continue building lives in the Commonwealth.
"This is a sign of relief," Mondestin emphasized. "At least some people can sleep at night and waking up knowing that they will not be a target by immigration enforcement."
As of 2022, there were approximately 731,000 Haitian immigrants residing in the U.S., with the majority employed in the service and health care sectors, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
