The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian immigrants through 2029. The bipartisan vote saw ten Republicans joining all Democrats in approving the measure, which pushes back against the Trump administration's efforts to end the program.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. House passed a bill to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitian immigrants through 2029. The bipartisan vote saw ten Republicans join Democrats in approving the measure.
- House passes TPS extension for Haitians by 224-204 vote
- Bill introduced by Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)
- Trump administration sought to end TPS, citing improved conditions in Haiti
- Senate faces significant hurdles; White House threatens veto
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.). It mirrors a bill introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio in 2019 when he was a Florida senator. The discharge petition to force the vote was led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who is co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus.
The Trump administration has sought to wind down protections for Haiti and several other countries, arguing that conditions are improving in their home country and that their shielding from deportation runs counter to American interests. However, lawmakers have argued that sending Haitians back to unsafe conditions is unjust and unwise.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) celebrated the vote, stating, 'This is a monumental victory in a long-fought battle to protect the safety, dignity, and humanity of our Haitian neighbors.' Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) also encouraged the Senate to take up the measure, noting that the extension protects 'law-abiding and tax-paying Haitians who would face horrific conditions if forced back to Haiti.'
The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it faces significant hurdles. If it does pass the Senate, the White House has indicated that Trump would veto the legislation. Additionally, the Supreme Court is set to rule on the Trump administration's efforts to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians, with a decision likely by June.
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