Chef Creole Owner Regretted 2024 Vote Over TPS Changes

The Miami restaurateur faced staff losses following the termination of Haitian Temporary Protected Status.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of two empty restaurant chairs, symbolizing the operational strain and staff losses in immigrant-founded businesses. — Chef Creole founder Wilkinson Sejour reports potential restaurant closures in Miami after four employees lost work authorization following changes to Haitian Temporary Protected Status. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wilkinson Sejour, founder of the seven-location Chef Creole business, expressed regret for his 2024 presidential vote in August 2026. The shift followed the loss of four employees after work authorizations ended for Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders.

Why it matters

The staff departures highlight the operational strain on immigrant-founded businesses following shifts in federal immigration policy. Sejour cited the loss of work protections as a primary driver for the workforce instability that now threatens to force restaurant closures.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services set the employment-authorization end date for Haitian TPS on July 27, 2026. This follows the Supreme Court ruling in Mullin v. Doe on June 25, 2026, which prohibited judicial review of the administration's decision.

The players

Wilkinson Sejour

He is the founder and owner of the Miami-based Chef Creole restaurant chain established in 1992.

Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services

This federal agency oversees the administration of the United States immigration system and legal work authorizations.

The details

Sejour, who founded Chef Creole in 1992, reported that staff members left his restaurants by late July 2026 due to the loss of immigration protections and fears of enforcement. He warned that he might be forced to close two of his Miami locations as a result of these staffing losses.

1992: Wilkinson Sejour founded Chef Creole.
June 25, 2026: The Supreme Court issued its ruling in Mullin v. Doe.
July 27, 2026: Employment authorization ended for Haitian TPS holders.
Late July 2026: Four employees departed from Chef Creole restaurants.
August 2026: Wilkinson Sejour expressed public regret for his 2024 vote.

Political Context

Opponents of the administration's policy argue that the mass termination of work authorizations creates unnecessary labor market instability in sectors reliant on immigrant talent. Critics of the ruling in Mullin v. Doe maintain that the lack of judicial review undermines the legal rights of long-term residents.

Local diners may experience potential closures or reduced service capacity at certain Miami-area restaurants due to the shifting labor landscape. Residents should monitor local business announcements to see if these regulatory changes impact neighborhood staples in areas like Little Haiti.

The takeaway

Business owners in sectors reliant on TPS-protected labor face significant uncertainty when federal designations expire without transition periods. This case demonstrates how national immigration policy shifts directly impact the survival of local, community-focused enterprises.