US House Votes to Extend Temporary Protections for Haitian Immigrants

US House Votes to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Immigrants

The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill extending temporary immigration protections for approximately 350,000 Haitians living in the country. The measure, which was approved by a vote of 224-204, would allow Haitians already in the US to maintain their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional three years due to ongoing violence and instability in Haiti.

The bill’s passage was made possible through a bipartisan discharge petition, allowing lawmakers to bypass the House leadership and force a vote. Ten Republicans joined the Democratic majority in supporting the measure. The bill will now proceed to the US Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.

If passed, President Donald Trump is likely to veto the bill due to his administration’s previous efforts to roll back TPS for Haitians. The Trump administration has repeatedly cited concerns about national interests and the alleged overreach of previous administrations in granting extensions.

Haiti has experienced high levels of violence and political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The State Department has warned US citizens not to travel to Haiti due to safety concerns, including crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited healthcare.

Advocacy groups have expressed concern that the fear of deportation is taking a toll on Haitian migrants living in the US. A recent news conference outside the Capitol featured Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, who called on Congress to act to protect vulnerable individuals.

The bill will now move forward to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.

Source: Al Jazeera