Senate must join House in protecting Haitians by extending TPS

It would be an act of abject cruelty for the United States to send families back to such dangerous and unsafe conditions. To do so would only exacerbate Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. … [Haitians] are hard workers filling jobs that, were it not for them, would go unfilled. The sudden expulsion of Haitian TPS holders would have devastating consequences for our nation’s economy. … Every single day, I see the human consequences of often unintended public policy decisions that result in chronic uncertainty, fear, and the disruption of families and entire communities. It’s up to the Senate now to vote “yes” on extending TPS protections for Haitians.

—Archbp. Thomas Wenski of Miami, “The fate of Haitian migrants lies with the Senate”, 19 June 2026

Urge Senate to follow House in protecting Haitian neighbors

On June 25, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Mullin v. Doe allowing the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for more than 330,000 Haitians and over 6,000 Syrians in the United States. The termination is expected to take effect imminently.

There is hope that Congress could pass a bill to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) until 2029. In April, the House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support using a “discharge petition” procedure to force a vote, requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) until 2029. A matching bill has been introduced in the Senate, but it appears that senators, likewise, will need to force the leadership’s hands to bring the bill to a vote. This will require additional cosponsors of the bill.

Please use the draft email in the grey box at right (below on mobile devices) to urge your two senators to support S. 4814 and issue public statements supporting the bill and the Haitian neighbors it protects.

Background

The Supreme Court has ruled that despite extremely unsafe conditions in Haiti and the Department of Homeland Security’s numerous procedural violations of the TPS statute, federal courts largely lack the authority to hold the administration accountable for unlawful TPS terminations. That responsibility is left up to the people—and to Congress, which must act swiftly and decisively.

Following a historic discharge petition earlier this year, the House passed bipartisan legislation to extend TPS protections for Haiti until 2029. An identical Senate version of the bill (S. 4814) was introduced by Senators Ed Markey and Lisa Blunt Rochester on June 17, just a week before the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe. But Senate leadership has not yet agreed to bring the bill to a vote.

Many Haitians have lived here for decades, relying on TPS for protection from deportation and work authorization. Now – amid a sweeping “de-documentation” campaign from the administration and the Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe – they are at risk. Meanwhile, Haiti is in an escalating humanitarian and security crisis. Violence has intensified, and the transitional government has expired with no succession plan in place.

Some communities are already preparing for the devastating impact of TPS ending. In Springfield, Ohio, for instance, community leaders have created safe havens for Haitians who may be impacted after a warning went out of planned ICE raids timed with the termination.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are connected to Haitian and Syrian community members, or TPS holders from other countries, scammers have been posing as legal assistants, offering false protection or legal help in exchange for compensation. Some even use fake logos from Catholic Charities agencies. If you are connected with TPS holders, or undocumented immigrants, please encourage them to be wary and seek trusted support in evaluating any unsolicited offers. Please familiarize yourself and refer them to reliable information, such as that on Mercy’s Resources for Immigrants page.