403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
U.S. House Moves to Restore Protections for Haitian Immigrants
(MENAFN) The US House of Representatives moved Wednesday to restore temporary legal protections for Haitian immigrants, as six Republicans broke ranks with President Donald Trump to side with Democrats in a rare cross-party challenge to one of his signature immigration priorities, according to media.
Lawmakers voted 219-209 to force a final floor vote on the measure, expected Thursday. The bill would grant eligible Haitian nationals Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for three years — a federal program allowing individuals from nations afflicted by war, natural disasters, or severe civil instability to live and work legally in the US for a defined period.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts who spearheaded the legislative push, hailed the outcome as "a critical step forward" and pointed to the uncommon bipartisan backing as a sign of the bill's broad moral and economic weight.
Supporters of the legislation warned that deporting Haitian immigrants would expose them to serious danger while simultaneously damaging critical sectors of the American economy. Representative Laura Gillen, a Democrat from New York, stressed that Haiti remains gripped by widespread violence, while many of its nationals living in the US fill indispensable roles in healthcare, caregiving, and education.
Several Republicans echoed those concerns. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska cautioned that terminating the protections risked deepening existing labor shortages and degrading essential services, including patient care.
The bill arrives amid an active legal confrontation: the Trump administration previously moved to strip TPS protections from approximately 350,000 Haitians, only to be blocked by a federal judge. That legal battle remains unresolved and could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
Trump has also drawn sustained criticism for his rhetoric toward Haitian immigrants — most notably for repeatedly and falsely claiming during his election campaign, without any evidence, that Haitians were eating pets, allegations that were widely debunked.
Lawmakers voted 219-209 to force a final floor vote on the measure, expected Thursday. The bill would grant eligible Haitian nationals Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for three years — a federal program allowing individuals from nations afflicted by war, natural disasters, or severe civil instability to live and work legally in the US for a defined period.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts who spearheaded the legislative push, hailed the outcome as "a critical step forward" and pointed to the uncommon bipartisan backing as a sign of the bill's broad moral and economic weight.
Supporters of the legislation warned that deporting Haitian immigrants would expose them to serious danger while simultaneously damaging critical sectors of the American economy. Representative Laura Gillen, a Democrat from New York, stressed that Haiti remains gripped by widespread violence, while many of its nationals living in the US fill indispensable roles in healthcare, caregiving, and education.
Several Republicans echoed those concerns. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska cautioned that terminating the protections risked deepening existing labor shortages and degrading essential services, including patient care.
The bill arrives amid an active legal confrontation: the Trump administration previously moved to strip TPS protections from approximately 350,000 Haitians, only to be blocked by a federal judge. That legal battle remains unresolved and could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
Trump has also drawn sustained criticism for his rhetoric toward Haitian immigrants — most notably for repeatedly and falsely claiming during his election campaign, without any evidence, that Haitians were eating pets, allegations that were widely debunked.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research
Comments
No comment