CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT CELEBRATES HOUSE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO RESTORE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS OF HAITIAN NATIONALS

For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland
April 17, 2026 202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT CELEBRATES HOUSE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO RESTORE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS OF HAITIAN NATIONALS

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) released the statement below following the U.S. House of Representatives' vote requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until April 20, 2029.

The vote to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until April 20, 2029 follows the successful adoption of H. Res. 965, the Discharge Petition led by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) to consider H.R. 1689. This marks a significant milestone in Congresswoman Plaskett's longstanding efforts to protect Haitian TPS holders. Congresswoman Plaskett assisted this week in whipping votes for passage of the legislation. The bipartisan vote comes after the Administration moved to revoke TPS from more than 350,000 Haitian nationals; protections that a federal court order has been keeping in place.

Congresswoman Plaskett has been instrumental in Congress to defend these protections. In 2025, she led a congressional letter with 48 of her colleagues to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem urging the immediate extension of TPS for Haitian nationals, detailing the catastrophic humanitarian conditions on the island, including gang violence that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced over 1.4 million Haitians. Congresswoman Plaskett has continued to advocate for Haitian TPS holders through legislation, coalition building, and direct engagement with the Administration.

"Our immigrant neighbors and their children are not our enemies, and today this body affirmed that reality," said Congresswoman Plaskett. "Haitian TPS holders contribute nearly $6 billion to the U.S. economy each year and annually pay $1.56 billion in taxes, as they are required to do, even though they are not eligible for the benefits that they directly help fund, like Social Security. For over 15 years, Haitian TPS holders have started families, built businesses, and contributed to communities throughout this country as teachers, caregivers, and more. Today's vote is a critical step toward restoring their protections."

Haiti's TPS designation was first granted after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than a million Haitians. Despite these deep roots in American communities, President Trump stripped legal status from otherwise law-abiding Haitian nationals.

Congresswoman Plaskett continued, "It is notable that even members of the Trump Cabinet understand this reality and the profound negative consequences of this decision. According to HHS Secretary Kennedy, there is already a shortage of health care workers. A mass deportation of Haitians will worsen the caregiving crisis. More than 20 percent of Haitians in the United States work in healthcare and help comprise the 1 in 4 long-term care workers who are immigrants. This decision is counterproductive, and even one of the most questionable members of this Cabinet understands that reality."

Congresswoman Plaskett continued, "Arbitrarily stripping Temporary Protected Status from Haitians is cruel and unconscionable. It forces Haitian people to return to a nation in abject chaos. Congress took a stand against pulling the rug out from under our law-abiding neighbors. We must now see this bill through the Senate and to the President's desk."

BACKGROUND: Discharge Petitions are a procedural tool that allow Members of Congress to bring to the House floor for consideration a public bill or resolution that has been referred to committee but not reported, once 218 Members have signed the petition. This allows the consideration of legislation outside of regular order, which is controlled by the Speaker of the House.

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