A faction of House Republicans recently diverged from President Donald Trump’s stance on the potential deportation of over 350,000 Haitian nationals. On Thursday, a vote passed, backed by ten Republicans alongside Democrats and one independent, which aims to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians by another three years.
The Republicans supporting the bill included representatives like Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis from New York, as well as Florida’s Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Jimenez. Others included Don Bacon from Nebraska, Rich McCormick from Georgia, Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, and Mike Carey and Mike Turner from Ohio, many representing districts with significant Haitian communities.
The TPS program permits individuals from countries undergoing humanitarian disasters or turmoil to live and work in the U.S. without the risk of deportation, though it does not lead to citizenship.
This vote occurs amidst efforts by the Trump administration to end TPS for Haitians, claiming the situation in Haiti is improving and that maintaining TPS contradicts U.S. interests. The administration’s attempts to terminate TPS are currently stuck in the legal system.
This measure reflects a degree of pushback from Senate Republicans, who are not set to vote on renewing TPS for Haitians. Observers predict Trump will likely veto any legislation extending TPS that Congress might pass.
Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), part of the Squad, employed a legislative tactic known as a discharge petition to secure a vote on the TPS extension. This approach required backing from several Republicans who signed the petition to achieve the necessary 218 signatures for a vote.
Rep. Laura Guillen (D-Y.) sponsored the resolution on the House floor.
The president also pointed to a recent homicide involving a Florida woman killed by a Haitian immigrant, Lorbert Joachim, who was reportedly granted TPS during Biden’s administration. Trump expressed his views on social media, arguing that such incidents should hinder court interventions in immigration policies.
Proponents of the TPS extension claim that granting work authorization to Haitians benefits local economies. Don Bacon, who is stepping down, shared concerns raised by healthcare providers and business leaders regarding the economic repercussions of deporting individuals who are legally residing and contributing to society.
However, there is a considerable number of House Republicans who uphold the Trump administration’s decision to abolish the TPS program. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, who is campaigning for governor, emphasized the legislative priorities lie with American voters rather than foreign nationals.
