Home health agencies across Florida employ many Haitian nationals who currently hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). A recent federal notice confirms that TPS for Haiti will terminate at 11:59 PM local time on February 3, 2026 — meaning TPS-based work authorization ends after that date unless the individual has another valid basis to work in the United States.

This update is especially relevant for providers already facing workforce pressure. Agencies should begin planning now to avoid last-minute staffing disruptions and to ensure continued compliance with federal employment verification requirements.

As the TPS termination deadline approaches, HCAF remains available to support members and help agencies navigate questions, planning, and compliance considerations. For any inquiries, please contact us at (850) 222-8967 or via email at info@homecarefla.org.

What Changed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has issued formal notice that the Secretary of Homeland Security is terminating Haiti’s TPS designation, effective February 3, 2026. 

USCIS has also published employer-facing guidance through Form I-9 Central confirming that Haiti’s TPS designation and benefits will terminate on February 3, 2026, and providing documentation guidance for employers. 

Why This Matters for Home Health Employers

If you employ team members whose work authorization is based on Haiti TPS, you may face:

• A hard legal cutoff on February 3, 2026 that prohibits continued employment of caregivers whose work authorization expires with Haiti TPS (depending on whether they have another immigration status or receive new documentation).
  
• Operational and scheduling risk if a meaningful number of caregivers become ineligible to work at the same time.
• Compliance risk if I-9 reverification is mishandled (too early, too late, or with improper document requests).

There has been ongoing litigation related to Haiti TPS and prior attempts to end TPS early; some court action previously affected the timing of termination. That said, as of the published federal notices and USCIS guidance, February 3, 2026 remains the operative end date.

Agencies should plan for that date, while monitoring for any court-ordered changes.

Provider Readiness Checklist

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, agencies should:

1. Run a confidential internal audit of upcoming work authorization expirations (do not target by nationality — use I-9/work authorization expiration dates).
2. Standardize your reverification process (who handles it, when it happens, what documents are acceptable, how Supplement B is completed).
3. Communicate early with impacted employees using a neutral message: “We’re reviewing upcoming work authorization expirations and will follow our standard I-9 reverification process.”
4. Build contingency staffing plans for February 2026 (scheduling buffers, recruiting runway, cross-training).
5. Encourage employees to seek qualified legal advice (without giving legal advice yourself or directing them to any specific outcome).
6. Monitor official updates from USCIS and DHS as February 3, 2026 approaches. 

This article is for general informational purposes for providers and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration status and work authorization are highly fact-specific. Agencies should consult qualified counsel for case-by-case questions.