House passes bill to extend TPS for Haitians

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants, approving H.R. 1689 in a bipartisan 224–204 vote on Thursday.

The legislation would extend TPS for Haitians for three years, through 2029, allowing those eligible to continue living and working legally in the U.S. The bill now needs to pass through Senate.

The vote follows a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley that reached the required 218 signatures in March, allowing rank-and-file members to bypass House leadership and force consideration of the bill after months of advocacy.

At a press conference on Capitol Hill on April 15, Pressley, who co-chairs the House Haiti Caucus, called the moment “a critical milestone after years of advocacy,” adding that the effort reflects “the strength of our movement, the power of our collective action and our bipartisan solidarity in this fight.”

Rep. Laura Gillen, a New York Democrat who introduced the bill and whose district includes Long Island’s Haitian community, also framed the vote as urgent, pointing to worsening conditions in Haiti and the risks of deportation.

“It’s cruel to expect Haitians to be forced to return to these deadly, dangerous conditions,” Gillen said. “Human lives are at risk.”

Gillen said Haitian immigrants in her district and across the country are deeply integrated into their communities, working in health care, education and small businesses.

“Haitian Long Islanders are part of the very fabric of our communities,” she said.

The measure has drawn support from both Democrats and a small number of Republicans.

Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Democratic whip, also urged lawmakers to back the bill.

“The legislation that my colleagues have championed provides us an opportunity to not only save lives but to grow opportunity and grow our economy,” Clark said.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler also backed the effort, calling it “common sense” given conditions in Haiti.

“Sending people back to Haiti to unsafe conditions when they are currently here lawfully is unjust and unwise,” Lawler said.

Still, the bill faces an uncertain path in the Senate, where support is less clear.

In the days leading up to the vote, Pressley and advocates coordinated a nationwide push to secure support, targeting lawmakers across party lines.

“Activism is organized storytelling,” she said. “It is just so important that we continue to amplify the stories.”

About 350,000 Haitians in the U.S. rely on TPS, a designation granted to nationals of countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions.

Many have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, building families, businesses and careers.

“They are nurses and home aides, childcare providers, transportation workers, entrepreneurs and educators,” Pressley said. “They are part of the fabric of America.”

Without an extension, many could lose legal status and work authorization, exposing them to deportation.

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