USA 
United Kingdom
Walmart has started terminating workers at multiple Florida stores following a US Supreme Court ruling that permits the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of migrants.
Employees at affected locations have been informed that their continued employment is dependent on valid federal work authorization, according to Bloomberg News. While the company has not confirmed how many workers are impacted, the action is part of a broader shift in corporate compliance amid changing federal immigration policy.
The layoffs stem from expired temporary residency statuses granted under Biden-era protections, allowing workers to live and work legally in the United States. Employers are now required to enforce stricter adherence to federal I-9 verification requirements, which ensure that all employees possess legal authorization to work.
Disney takes similar action as Supreme Court ruling reverberates
Walmart is not the only employer impacted by the new legal landscape. Disney recently informed 45 Florida-based employees that their jobs would be placed on hold. The workers, also Venezuelan nationals under TPS, lost their protected status following the court’s decision.
Disney said that the employees will retain access to benefits while on leave, emphasizing that the move was taken to ensure full compliance with federal law and avoid any employee unknowingly working without authorization.
“We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they could impact them or their families,” Disney said.
The court decision affects migrants from countries including Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba. Many of the individuals had been legally residing and working in the US, and in some cases, supporting local industries critical to the economy.
Compliance pressure grows as states brace for labor shortfalls
In Central Florida, which hosts a large Venezuelan population, community leaders are raising concerns about the impact of the ruling on local workforces. Labor shortages already affect industries such as retail, hospitality and construction.
Hiring Managers: State of Hiring and Retention
What are your peers doing to fill roles during shortages? What’s the current state of hybrid work and return-to-office? What are the biggest challenges facing hiring managers?
We unpacked the data to bring you answers to your most pressing questions.
Did you know…
Nearly half of hiring managers say they’ve recently changed their offer package to entice new employees.
72% of hiring managers say the current state of the workforce has impacted their hiring.
40% of hiring managers say they've had to expedite hiring to fill roles
Download this report to:
Learn How Your Strategies Compare - Get an inside look at how your hiring manager peers hire and retain talent.
Build More Competitive Offers - Use the latest data to ensure your offer packages align with market trends.
Optimize Your Retention Tactics - See how employers balance pay increases with flexibility and other incentives.
Anna Eskamani, a Democratic state representative running for mayor of Orlando, criticized the consequences of the court ruling and its ripple effects.
“Disney sets the standard - other companies in our economy look toward them," she told the New York Times. "We don’t have enough workers as it is, so this is a bad situation that’s getting worse,” she said.
Walmart, which employs about 1.6 million workers nationwide, declined to comment on the number of employees affected across its 4,600 US locations.
The Trump administration has not yet provided detailed guidance on how it intends to enforce the ruling but has launched a campaign encouraging voluntary departures.
The program includes stipends of up to $1,000 and travel support for those who choose to leave the country. Immigration officials have stated that individuals without valid documentation may face arrest or deportation.
