Van Hollen Joins Blunt Rochester, Senate Democrats in Calling on Secretary Noem to Reverse Termination of TPS for Haiti

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and over 40 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reverse her directive to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The policy took effect February 3, 2026, though it was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

"The Republic of Haiti remains gripped by extraordinary political instability and the deterioration of civil society," the Senators wrote. "Armed gangs control significant territory, violence and kidnappings have escalated, and basic governance functions have effectively collapsed. Access to healthcare, food, and public services is severely limited, and large portions of the population remain displaced. Consequently, these conditions continue to meet the statutory criteria that justified the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) original TPS designation and have only worsened over time."

"When DHS last extended TPS for Haiti in June 2024, the department cited persistent insecurity, humanitarian need, and the inability of the Haitian government to safely receive returning nationals," the Senators continued. "Those same conditions persist today. The department's subsequent decision not to extend TPS represents a departure from its own recent findings. It would expose individuals to grave danger, family separation, and undermine the very humanitarian purpose Congress intended TPS to serve."

"We urge DHS to act in accordance with the law, facts on the ground, and America's longstanding commitment to humane immigration policy," the Senators concluded. "DHS should immediately extend TPS for Haitian nationals and provide certainty to affected families and communities across the United States."

In addition to Senators Van Hollen and Blunt Rochester, the letter was signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D.N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Angus King (I-Maine).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write to express our deep concern over your November 2025 decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, effective February 3, 2026. Although a federal judge has temporarily stayed the termination of TPS, preserving protections while litigation continues, hundreds of thousands of Haitians lawfully living and working in the United States remain in legal uncertainty despite the catastrophic humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti that prevents a safe return.

The Republic of Haiti remains gripped by extraordinary political instability and the deterioration of civil society. Armed gangs control significant territory, violence and kidnappings have escalated, and basic governance functions have effectively collapsed. Access to healthcare, food, and public services is severely limited, and large portions of the population remain displaced. Consequently, these conditions continue to meet the statutory criteria that justified the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) original TPS designation and have only worsened over time.

Ending TPS would also impose immediate economic harm on communities across the United States because Haitian TPS holders are essential to the American workforce and economy. Haitian nationals contribute billions of dollars in economic activity each year and are highly represented in critical sectors such as healthcare, construction, food processing, and logistics. In states like Delaware, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Georgia, they have found opportunity in many communities by filling workforce needs that are vital to local economies. Across the country, Haitian immigrants have started businesses, own property, and have given back through faith-based and community organizations. In other words, allowing TPS protections to lapse would disrupt employers, families, and communities overnight and threaten to forcibly remove Haitians from their homes.

When DHS last extended TPS for Haiti in June 2024, the department cited persistent insecurity, humanitarian need, and the inability of the Haitian government to safely receive returning nationals. Those same conditions persist today. The department's subsequent decision not to extend TPS represents a departure from its own recent findings. It would expose individuals to grave danger, family separation, and undermine the very humanitarian purpose Congress intended TPS to serve.

We urge DHS to act in accordance with the law, facts on the ground, and America's longstanding commitment to humane immigration policy. DHS should immediately extend TPS for Haitian nationals and provide certainty to affected families and communities across the United States.