WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats initiated a procedural maneuver on Thursday to compel a House vote extending Temporary Protected Status for approximately half a million Haitian immigrants facing imminent deportation threats.
Led by Representative Ayanna Pressley, co-chair of the Congressional Haiti Caucus, lawmakers filed a discharge petition that would bypass standard committee procedures and force floor consideration of a three-year TPS extension. The controversial parliamentary tactic requires 218 signatures to succeed, representing a majority of the House membership.
The urgent legislative action comes with Haiti’s TPS designation set to expire on February 3, 2026, potentially exposing between 350,000 and 500,000 Haitian nationals to removal proceedings. Many beneficiaries have established deep roots in American communities and occupy critical positions in healthcare and elder care sectors.
At a Capitol Hill press conference, Pressley was joined by Representatives Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), alongside a coalition of immigration advocates and healthcare representatives. They emphasized the devastating human consequences of termination and its potential disruption to already strained medical systems.
Industry representatives presented compelling data showing immigrant workers constitute approximately 25% of healthcare facility staff and over 30% of home care aides. While TPS holders represent a small demographic segment, they comprise 15% of all non-citizen healthcare professionals. Notably, more than 20% of Haitian immigrants work within healthcare sectors.
The timing creates a particularly complex policy challenge as demographic projections indicate America’s population aged 65 and over will grow by 50% before 2050, while simultaneously facing an estimated shortage of 3.5 million healthcare professionals by 2030.
Among organizations endorsing the extension were the American Business Immigration Coalition, National TPS Alliance, SEIU, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, National Domestic Workers Alliance, LeadingAge, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Goodwin Living.