CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
FOR RELEASE: July 1, 2026
Adam Allington
(231) 620-7180
TPS workers play critical role in state economy, view U.S. as home
ITHACA, N.Y. – Immigrant workers protected by a key humanitarian status make significant contributions to New York state’s economy and communities, according to new Cornell University research .
Workers from Central America who have temporary protective status (TPS), which the U.S. gives to citizens of countries troubled by war and other crises, play a critical role in New York state’s economy, are highly engaged in civic and political organizations, and overwhelmingly view the U.S. as their home, according to research from the Cornell ILR School’s Worker Institute. Many are also parents of U.S.-born citizens under the age of 18 years old.
“TPS workers already belong in our American society,” said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute. “They are an intrinsic part of our economy and communities, and our political system ought to be thinking about ways that we can legally acknowledge their contributions via a path to permanency in their lives.”
The report finds that the study participants have strong attachments to their New York state communities, proven adherence to American values and pride in their economic contributions to local economies. The findings support previous research demonstrating that long-term TPS holders have developed deep social, economic and civic ties to American society.
Co-authors Patricia Campos-Medina and Natalia Navas used a mixed-methods research design, which included analysis of published data on TPS holders, empirical research on temporary workers, and focus groups with 29 Central American TPS holders conducted in Spanish and English. Campos-Medina has conducted extensive research on TPS individuals since 2019.
“TPS workers are fully employed, because proving your employment status is a requirement of the program,” Campos-Medina said. “And they are predominantly employed in industries that are important to the U.S. economy, like health care, construction and the logistics industry.”
To delegalize them is to displace a very productive workforce from those key industries that drive the U.S. economy, she said. “The implications extend beyond the individual. It disrupts local economies, increases labor shortages and heightens the vulnerability of immigrant workers to workplace exploitation.”
The policy paper provides five recommendations to improve the protection and livelihoods of TPS holders.
“It’s the obligation of American society – especially workers, union leaders and labor advocates – to recognize that TPS workers have proven their allegiance to the U.S. by contributing to our country’s workforce and economy,” Campos-Medina said. “They have earned a path to belong, a path to permanency and eventual citizenship.”
For additional information, see this Cornell Chronicle story .
Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews.
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