Ten Republicans will join Democrats in extending Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians in the United States.
Published April 16, 2026
The U.S. House of Representatives has suspended talks with President Donald Trump and voted to extend temporary immigration protections to the approximately 350,000 Haitians living in the country.
Ten Republicans joined the Democratic majority in Thursday’s vote, passing the measure by a 224-204 margin.
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The bill would allow Haitians already in the United States to maintain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional three years due to violence and instability in the Caribbean country.
The bill will now be sent to the U.S. Senate, but its future remains uncertain. If passed, Trump will almost certainly veto the bill.
“This is a monumental victory in the years-long fight to protect the safety, dignity, and humanity of Haiti’s neighbors,” Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley, co-chair of the Haiti House Caucus, said in a statement.
“Democrats and Republicans alike rallied to support our neighbor Haiti, not just because it’s good and sensible policy, but because it’s the right and humane thing to do.”
The bill advanced Thursday through a bipartisan expulsion petition, a legislative tool that allows lawmakers to bypass House Republican leadership and force a vote.
Opponents of President Trump
But the bill’s progress raises the possibility of a conflict with the White House.
President Trump and his officials have repeatedly attempted to rescind temporary immigration protections, arguing that the previous administration exceeded its authority to grant extensions.
The push comes as part of President Trump’s broader efforts to limit immigration to the United States.
TPS is intended to protect foreign nationals already in the country from deportation. This system is approved when the home country is facing a temporary dangerous situation such as a natural disaster or conflict. Successful applicants will also be granted a temporary work permit.
Last year, the Trump administration made several efforts to end TPS for Haitians, citing U.S. “national interests.”
In June, for example, it announced that the designation would expire in August. In November, it reiterated its intention to end the program, calling the move a “vote of confidence” in the Haitian government.
The Caribbean nation has suffered high levels of violence and political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
After his death, a powerful gang expanded its influence on the island and took control of much of the capital of Port-au-Prince.
The State Department had previously warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Haiti “due to the risks of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, violence, and limited medical care.”
Advocacy groups have warned that fear of deportation is becoming a burden for Haitian immigrants living in the United States. They called on Congress to act to protect vulnerable people.
“We’re asking: Where are you? Are you on the right side of history? Or do you continue to traumatize people who want nothing more than safety and protection?” asked Geerline Joseph, executive director of the Haiti Bridge Alliance, at a news conference outside the Capitol.
This month, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a fast-track case considering the administration’s request to move forward with revoking deportation protections for Haitians and Syrians.
