Bill to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Passes in House

The House of Representatives has put forward a bill aimed at extending the temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants, and it managed to pass with support from six Republicans joining the Democrats in favor.

On Wednesday, all Democrats backed the bill championed by Rep. Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts. This legislation is designed to offer special protections to Haitian immigrants. Ultimately, the bill received a narrow victory with a vote count of 219-209, aided by the votes of six Republicans and one independent, ex-Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley from California.

The six Republican representatives who voted in favor include Don Bacon from Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Carlos Jimenez from Florida, Mike Lawler of New York, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, and Nicole Malliotakis, also from New York. Interestingly, Salazar is the sponsor of a bipartisan proposal known as the Dignity Act, which some critics argue is simply a new avenue for mass amnesty.

Republican Congressman Chip Roy, from Texas, labeled the decision to extend TPS for Haitians as “irrational,” voicing concerns that he claims resonate with many Americans.

In early April, the Trump administration raised alarms after a Haitian immigrant was allegedly involved in the murder of an American woman with a hammer at a gas station. This individual had entered the U.S. during Biden’s presidency and received TPS, the same status the current legislation aims to extend.

Trump criticized the TPS program, saying, “This situation occurred because the Biden administration allowed him, along with all Haitians, to stay through Temporary Protected Status. This is a massively abusive and fraudulent program that my administration is striving to eliminate, although liberal district court judges are obstructing our efforts.”

He added, “As I’ve always said, if you import Third World, you become Third World. That’s the reality of what we witnessed during the four years of the Democratic administration.”