标签： Haiti

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.

Haiti faces escalating political turmoil as the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) has defiantly moved to dismiss Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, directly challenging pressure from the United States and other international partners. This controversial decision has triggered a significant diplomatic confrontation just weeks before the Council’s mandate expiration on February 7, 2026.

The dismissal process encountered internal resistance from Laurent Saint-Cyr, the Council’s President pro tempore and Coordinator, who has blocked the resolution’s implementation. Saint-Cyr formally opposed what he characterized as “any resolution aimed at undermining governmental stability as February 7th approaches” in official correspondence to CPT members.

The political drama intensified with the fluctuating position of Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin, who initially withdrew his signature from the dismissal resolution on January 21st, only to reverse course the following day and confirm his support for the Prime Minister’s ouster via WhatsApp message.

International reaction has been swift and severe. The U.S. Embassy declared any government composition change by the non-elected CPT “null and void,” warning that supporters of such “disruptive steps” would be considered as “favoring the gangs” and acting against Haitian and international interests.

The U.S. State Department’s Western Hemisphere Office delivered particularly harsh criticism, asserting that Haiti’s chronic instability stems from “corrupt Haitian politicians who use gangs and other armed groups to create chaos.” The statement explicitly labeled CPT members following this path as “criminals like the gangs they conspire with” rather than Haitian patriots.

Canada expressed deep concern that replacing the Prime Minister would “weaken the stability and security of the country,” while the European Union, Germany, Spain, and France jointly warned that any leadership change would “jeopardize the encouraging momentum of the security forces against criminal gangs.”

The United Kingdom similarly characterized the proposed government changes as “inopportune and destabilizing,” emphasizing that such moves would undermine security efforts precisely as the CPT’s mandate approaches expiration.

This developing crisis represents a critical test for Haiti’s transitional governance amid ongoing security challenges and gang violence, with the international community presenting a united front against the CPT’s actions.

In a dramatic political showdown on January 21, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé retained his position after a failed dismissal attempt within the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT). The resolution for his removal initially garnered support from five council members before Advisor Smith Augustin unexpectedly reversed his position, refusing to provide the crucial final signature needed for passage.

The four advisors who endorsed the dismissal motion were identified as Fritz Alphonse Jean, Leslie Voltaire, Louis Gérald Gilles, and Edgard Leblanc Fils. Their effort faced strong opposition from Laurent Saint-Cyr, the Council’s President pro tempore and Coordinator, who circulated a formal correspondence condemning the initiative.

Saint-Cyr’s communication emphasized the critical need for governmental stability ahead of the February 7 institutional deadline, warning against ‘any initiative likely to fuel instability, confusion or a breakdown of trust’ that would carry ‘serious risks for the country.’ He advocated for structured dialogue representing Haiti’s diverse political sectors rather than rushed decisions.

The decisive factor in quashing the dismissal attempt emerged from explicit diplomatic pressure from the United States Embassy. In unequivocal language, U.S. officials declared that changing Haiti’s government composition at this late stage would be considered ‘an effort to undermine’ American objectives for security and stability. The correspondence contained a direct threat that the U.S. would regard supporters of such measures as ‘acting contrary to the interests of the United States, the region, and the Haitian people’ and would ‘act accordingly.’

This diplomatic intervention highlights the ongoing influence of international actors in Haiti’s fragile political transition and the continuing challenges facing the Caribbean nation’s governance structures.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — A pivotal two-day workshop addressing Haiti’s systemic challenges in financing local authorities commenced this week at the Montana Hotel, spearheaded by Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé. The collaborative initiative between the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) and the National Federation of Haitian Mayors (FENAMH) convened national and international stakeholders to tackle one of Haiti’s most pressing governance issues.

The high-level gathering witnessed participation from Minister of National Education, UNDP Resident Representative Xavier Michon, directors of multiple governmental agencies, and representatives from municipal associations across Haiti. This diverse attendance underscored the national significance of resolving funding disparities that hinder local development.

Central to the discussions was the critical financial paralysis facing municipal governments, which lack both administrative autonomy and sufficient resources to provide essential public services. The workshop served as both diagnostic assessment and advocacy platform, aiming to establish effective mechanisms for equitable fund distribution that would enable meaningful decentralization.

Minister Bien-Aimé delivered a forceful address demanding the repatriation of the Local Government Management Fund (FONDCT) to municipal control. Revealing that 90% of municipalities and all communal sections depend on these allocations, the Minister condemned the current concentration of public resources as fundamentally unjust and unsustainable. His declaration that ‘It’s time for the Ministry of the Interior and local authorities to manage the funds of local authorities again!’ signaled a potential paradigm shift in Haiti’s governance structure.

FENAMH President Mayor Anténor Denoil echoed these sentiments, framing effective decentralization as essential for local development and constitutional compliance. The Minister of National Education further contextualized the crisis, explaining how chronic underfunding perpetuates regional disparities and deepens social inequalities.

UNDP Representative Xavier Michon endorsed the initiative as a crucial step toward establishing practical financing mechanisms. The MICT reinforced that local financing represents the cornerstone for proportionate decentralization and sustainable community development throughout Haiti.