Preserve Temporary Protected Status
Protect Haitians from being forcibly returned to life-threatening conditions
Urge the Senate to Protect Haitians by Preserving Temporary Protected Status
Haiti is experiencing a humanitarian crisis. Despite this, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals is set to terminate as early as July 24, 2026. By advancing S.4814, Members of the Senate can help protect Haitians from being forcibly returned to life-threatening conditions. Senators should also urge the President to grant Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Haitian nationals until legislation is passed.
What is happening in Haiti?
Haiti was first designated for TPS in 2010 after catastrophic earthquakes. Over the last decade, its designation has continued to be extended, and even renewed through redesignations several times, due to ongoing violence, displacement, and political instability. Human rights organizations report widespread insecurity and the government’s failure to protect civilians.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian protection under U.S. law that allows people from designated countries to remain temporarily in the United States when conditions in their home country prevent safe return.
TPS may be designated when a country is experiencing:
- Ongoing armed conflict
- Environmental disaster
- Extraordinary and temporary conditions that make return unsafe
While TPS does not provide permanent immigration status, it does offer temporary protection from deportation and allows recipients to work legally while in this status.
For an estimated 330,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States, TPS provides critical stability for families, workers, and others who cannot safely return home. Additionally, TPS holders provide stability to domestic industries that face staffing shortages. For example, more than 112,000 Haitians work in the U.S. healthcare industry.
Why is this issue urgent now?
The need for action is urgent because protection for Haitian nationals is set to terminate as early as July 24, 2026.
Late last year, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced termination of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. While this termination was paused during court battles, the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe removed any obstacles for termination.
This decision places Haitian TPS holders at risk of imminent deportation. Without protection, they face return to a country marked by conflict, violence, and political instability.
What impact does TPS termination have on Americans?
According to the American Immigration Council, over 112,800 Haitians work in the U.S. healthcare industry alone. All TPS holders may work legally. They serve as nurses, home health aides for the elderly, and caregivers in long-term facilities. The Supreme Court’s ruling brings uncertainty and fear not only for these workers, but also for the thousands of vulnerable American patients who rely on them.
The U.S. is experiencing its fastest increase in the ageing population in more than 100 years, but the number of caregivers has not matched the growth. In January 2026, nearly 15,000 nurses in New York went on strike to protest unsafe staffing ratios. A recent study indicates that a third of all hospitals face nursing vacancies of 10% or more. In a healthcare system already facing staffing shortages, removing a significant percentage of eligible workers will further endanger patients.
Why the Senate should act
The House took the first steps, passing H.R. 1689. This bipartisan effort directs the Department of Homeland Security to extend Haiti’s TPS until 2029. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) have now introduced companion legislation (S.4814).
The Senate should act because there is a clear and imminent humanitarian need. The consequences of inaction would be severe.
As Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) wrote, “Revoking the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people residing in our country creates a moral crisis when returning to their country of origin is not a safe or reasonable option.”
Thank Your Members If They Have Co-Sponsored
If your Members of Congress are already leaders or co-sponsors of the resolution, please thank them!
- Sen. Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kim (D-N.J.), Sen. Coons (D-Del.), Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD), Sen. Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Sen. Warnock (D-GA), Sen. Welch (D-VT), Sen. Murray (D-WA), Sen. King (I-ME), Sen. Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sen. Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Bennet (D-CO)
FAQs
Why is Haiti considered unsafe right now?
Haiti has been under a national state of emergency since March 2024. The country faces widespread violent crime, displacement, and instability. Human rights groups and international officials have reported severe insecurity. Armed groups control in many areas, and the government cannot adequately protect civilians.
What is Temporary Protected Status?
Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, is a temporary humanitarian protection that allows eligible people from certain countries to remain in the United States when returning home would be unsafe due to conflict, disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.
What is Deferred Enforced Departure?
Deferred Enforced Departure, or DED, represents a decision not to pursue removal of nationals of a designated country. It is solely within the authority of the President to designate a country for DED. Therefore, even if the TPS designation for Haiti terminates, the administration has options to avoid sending people back to dangerous conditions and leaving many Americans without the caregivers they rely on.
Do TPS and DED provide permanent immigration status?
No, both are temporary. TPS protects people from deportation for a designated period and allows them to legally work while they remain under TPS designation. DED is not a specific immigration status. Instead, individuals covered by DED are not subject to removal from the United States for a designated period and may be authorized to work during that time.
Why is this issue urgent now?
Under the statute, a TPS designation can only be terminated based on a review of relevant country conditions and a finding that the conditions warranting designation no longer exist. On June 25, however, the Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe effectively greenlit TPS terminations based on summary, pretextual findings without meaningful consideration of conditions in the country in question. As a result of the ruling, over 330,000 Haitians with TPS could face risk of immediate deportation. The Trump administration has also threatened to terminate TPS for 13 of 17 other countries currently designated for it.
What would S.4814 do?
S.4814 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status until 2029.
Why should I contact my Senator?
Your Senator can help move this legislation forward. Public pressure can make a difference, especially when congressional support is still building.
Where can I see the status of TPS for other countries?
You can find a multilingual guide for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) updates here.
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