Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a lifesaving humanitarian protection tool in U.S. immigration law. It allows people from countries facing war, natural disasters, or other major crises to live and work legally in the United States while their home country remains unsafe. TPS offers stability, protection, and the ability to support their families until it is safe to return home. 

Haiti was first designated for TPS after the devastating January 2010 earthquake. The U.S. government has repeatedly extended the protections of TPS as conditions worsened. The island nation continues to endure political collapse, widespread gang violence, kidnappings, and a breakdown of essential services and state infrastructure, including access to food, shelter, water, and health care. Armed gangs now dominate around 90 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince and have expanded their control to the surrounding countryside, terrorizing children and their families. 

In the United States, the Haiti TPS designation now provides a lawful immigration status for more than 350,000 people—making it one of the largest TPS populations in the country. Haitians on TPS also fill critical needs in the American workforce, with thousands contributing as agricultural workers, nursing assistants, and caregivers.

Yet, the administration has sought to revoke TPS for Haitians—potentially exposing hundreds of thousands of people, children and families, to uncertainty and poverty, detention and other traumatic immigration enforcement measures, and extreme violence and deprivation should they be forced back to Haiti. 

With the planned termination of TPS for Haiti going to the U.S. Supreme Court, Rep. Pressley of Massachusetts has championed a bipartisan discharge petition to force a vote on a measure to designate Haiti for TPS through 2029. 

Through the incredible work of advocates, faith-based groups, and others, this discharge petition has now been signed by a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives– and if successful will send a measure to designate Haiti for TPS to a full House floor vote this month! 

Sign the action alert on the right to urge your Representative to support the discharge petition and preserve lawful status for Haitians.