House Passes Bill Extending Protections for Haitian ‘Migrants’ as GOP Defections Shape Vote

Measure advancing temporary legal status for 350,000 Haitians clears House with bipartisan support but faces uncertain future in Senate.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-204 on Thursday to approve legislation extending Temporary Protected Status for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States for an additional three years.

The measure passed after a group of Republican lawmakers joined Democrats, following earlier procedural efforts that forced the bill onto the House floor through a discharge petition. The chamber reacted with audible applause after the final vote tally was announced.

The legislation, introduced by Ayanna Pressley, would extend protections that allow eligible Haitian nationals to remain and work legally in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status program.

“Extending TPS for Haiti is not only the moral and humanitarian thing to do—it’s also good policy. It’s good for families, it’s good for our economy, and it’s good for America,” Pressley said prior to the vote. “Today the People’s House has an opportunity to pass our legislation to extend Haiti TPS and save lives. And we must do just that.”

Ten Republicans ultimately voted in favor of the measure alongside Democrats. Those members included Maria Salazar, Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Carlos Gimenez, Nicole Malliotakis, Mario Diaz-Balart, Mike Lawler, Mike Turner, Rich McCormick, and Mike Carey.

Additionally, Kevin Kiley, who recently changed his party affiliation to Independent, also supported the legislation.

The vote followed an earlier procedural step in which a smaller group of Republicans sided with Democrats to advance the measure, resulting in a 219-209 vote to bring the bill to the floor.

Temporary Protected Status is a federal program that allows individuals from designated countries experiencing extraordinary conditions to remain in the United States on a temporary basis. The program has been the subject of ongoing legal and political debate.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain. Donald Trump has indicated he would veto the measure if it reaches his desk.

At the same time, the Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to hear arguments later this month concerning the administration’s prior decision to end Temporary Protected Status for large groups of migrants, including individuals from Haiti and Syria.

The House vote underscores divisions within the Republican Party over immigration policy while highlighting continued congressional debate over the future of humanitarian protections for foreign nationals residing in the United States.