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The U.S. House of Representatives voted this week to advance and pass legislation that would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Haitian immigrants for three years, extending protections through 2029. This legislative action occurred as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in a separate case concerning the Trump administration's authority to terminate TPS for Haiti and Syria.
Legislative Action on TPS for Haiti
House Vote on Discharge Petition
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-209 on a discharge petition to advance legislation granting TPS to eligible Haitian immigrants for three years. The procedural vote allowed the bill to proceed to a final vote. Six Republican representatives voted with Democrats and one independent to advance the measure.
The legislation was first introduced in 2023 by Representatives Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.). The discharge petition was brought forward by Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus.
House Passage of the Bill
On Thursday, the House passed the bill with a vote of 224-204, extending TPS protections through 2029. Ten Republican representatives joined all voting Democrats in supporting the measure.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate for consideration. The White House has stated that if it passes the Senate, President Trump would veto it.
Statements from Lawmakers
"A monumental victory in a long-fought battle to protect the safety, dignity, and humanity of our Haitian neighbors."
— Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)
Representative Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) argued on the House floor that removing Haitian immigrants "would not just be a humanitarian catastrophe; it would hurt our economy," noting their work in healthcare, education, and caregiving.
Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.) posted on social media that removing TPS status "would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we're already facing serious workforce shortages." He stated he does not see the benefit of deporting people who are "here legally, working, and contributing to our country."
Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) posted that her office heard from nursing homes that would lose skilled nursing staff if TPS is not renewed. She described Haitian immigrants as "working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy" and stated that deporting them to a country in peril would be "uncompassionate and misguided."
Republican Representatives Supporting the Measure
- María Elvira Salazar (Florida)
- Carlos A. Gimenez (Florida)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
- Don Bacon (Nebraska)
- Mike Lawler (New York)
- Nicole Malliotakis (New York)
- Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida)
- Mike Carey (Ohio)
- Mike Turner (Ohio)
Background on Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a federal program created by Congress in 1990. It allows foreign nationals from countries facing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other temporarily unsafe conditions to live and work in the United States for a designated period. TPS does not provide a direct pathway to citizenship.
- Haiti was initially granted TPS in 2010 following a major earthquake. The designation has been extended multiple times.
- Syria was designated for TPS in 2012 under the Obama administration due to the civil war.
- Currently, more than 330,000 Haitian nationals hold TPS protections.
Supreme Court Case on TPS Termination
Current Status
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, concerning the Trump administration's efforts to terminate TPS for Haiti and Syria. Oral arguments are scheduled for late April, with a decision expected by late June or early July.
Administration's Actions
After President Trump returned to office, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem moved to terminate TPS for Haiti and Syria. The administration has also moved to end TPS for nationals of at least 13 other countries, including Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
"No judicial review means no judicial review."
— Solicitor General D. John Sauer, arguing the administration's position
Legal Arguments
- Administration's Position: The Justice Department argues the TPS statute bars judicial review of termination decisions. The administration contends that lower courts have overstepped by substituting their own views on country conditions.
- Plaintiffs' Position: Attorneys for TPS holders argue that judicial review is permitted to assess whether the secretary followed the statutory process. They claim DHS failed to adequately consult the State Department, which has issued Level 4 travel advisories (warning against travel) for both Haiti and Syria.
Lower Court Rulings
Two federal district courts have blocked the administration's termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria.
- Haiti Case: U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the termination, finding it "substantially likely" that the decision was "preordained" and influenced by "hostility to nonwhite immigrants."
- Syria Case: A federal district court delayed the termination, finding that Noem's move was based on a political agenda rather than statutory requirements.
Prior Supreme Court Actions
The Supreme Court previously allowed the Trump administration to terminate TPS for Venezuelan nationals while litigation continued, affecting approximately 600,000 people.
Related Context
Florida Incident
The House vote occurred less than a week after a homicide in Florida where the suspect, identified as Rolbert Joachin, was arrested and charged. The Department of Homeland Security stated Joachin is an undocumented immigrant from Haiti.
Economic Impact
According to FWD.us, nearly 190,000 Haitian TPS holders were employed in early 2025, contributing an estimated $5.9 billion to the U.S. economy and paying $1.6 billion in taxes. They work in sectors including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education.
Jan Gautam, CEO of a hotel management company in Florida, stated that approximately 30% of his hotel staff are Haitian TPS holders. A study by economists at two Federal Reserve banks found no evidence that immigrants displace native-born workers and instead found that they increase overall employment in local economies.