Urge the Senate to Protect Haitians by Restoring Temporary Protected Status 

Haiti is experiencing a humanitarian crisis. Despite this, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals terminated July 27, 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. 

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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. That insecurity was starkly illustrated by a massacre carried out on August 23rd by an armed gang, which left more than 47 people dead and at least 50 kidnapped. Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski cited the attack as further evidence that Haiti remains extremely unsafe and of the grave risks of returning people there. 

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 removal and allows recipients to work legally while in this status.  

For an estimated 330,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States, TPS provided 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 worked in the U.S. healthcare industry.  

Why is this issue urgent now? 

The need for action is urgent because protection for Haitian nationals was terminated effective July 27, 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 paused during litigation, the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe allowed termination to proceed.  

The ensuing termination of TPS for Haiti placed Haitian TPS holders at risk of imminent deportation. Without TPS, they face return to a country marked by conflict, violence, and political instability and generally cannot work legally while here.

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. TPS holders may work legally, and Haitian TPS holders have served as nurses, home health aides for the elderly, and caregivers in long-term care facilities. The termination of the Haiti TPS designation 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 would direct the Department of Homeland Security to extend Haitian TPS until 2029. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) have also introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S.4814). 

The Senate should act because there is a clear and imminent humanitarian need. The consequences of inaction are devastating.  

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), Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Schatz (D-HI), Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sen. Padilla (D-CA), Sen. Smith (D-MN), Sen. Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Luján (D-NM), Sen. Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Cantwell (S-WA), Sen. Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Schiff (S-CA), Sen. Warner (D-VA), Sen. Kaine (D-VA). 

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