House Advances Bill to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Migrants

Six Republicans join Democrats in vote, drawing criticism from conservatives

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a hand holding immigration documents, with the image fractured and repeated in overlapping geometric shapes in patriotic colors, conveying the complex and contested nature of the political debate around extending protections for Haitian migrants.The House vote to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants exposes deep partisan divides on immigration policy.NYC Today

The House has advanced a bill to extend the Temporary Protected Status for Haiti by another three years after six Republicans voted with Democrats. The bill ultimately advanced in a 219-209 vote, with the help of six Republicans and one independent. The six Republicans who voted for the bill are Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Mike Lawler of New York, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, and Nicole Malliotakis of New York.

Why it matters

The extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants has drawn criticism from conservatives, who argue that the program is 'absurd' and 'massively abused'. Former President Donald Trump has also sounded the alarm, citing a recent incident where an immigrant from Haiti allegedly murdered an American woman.

The details

The bill, introduced by Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley, would give special protections to Haitian migrants. Critics, including Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, have called the vote to extend TPS for Haitians 'absurd', echoing concerns shared by many Americans. The six Republicans who voted for the bill are also leading the charge for the bipartisan Dignity Act, which critics have said is another push for mass amnesty.

  • The House vote to advance the bill took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Ayanna Pressley

A Democratic representative from Massachusetts who introduced the bill to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haiti.

Chip Roy

A Republican representative from Texas who criticized the vote to extend TPS for Haitians as 'absurd'.

Donald Trump

The former president who sounded the alarm over a recent incident where an immigrant from Haiti allegedly murdered an American woman, and criticized the Biden administration's granting of Temporary Protective Status to Haitians.

Don Bacon

A Republican representative from Nebraska who voted with Democrats to advance the bill.

Brian Fitzpatrick

A Republican representative from Pennsylvania who voted with Democrats to advance the bill.

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What they’re saying

“This animal was allowed to stay here because the Biden Administration granted him, and all Haitians, 'Temporary Protective Status,' a massively abused and fraudulent program which my Administration is working to terminate, but Deranged Liberal District Court Judges are standing in our way.”

— Donald Trump

“If you import the Third World, you become the Third World.”

— Donald Trump

“This vote to extend TPS for Haitians is absurd.”

— Chip Roy, Republican Representative from Texas

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Senate, where it will face further scrutiny and debate.

The takeaway

The extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants has become a contentious political issue, with conservatives arguing that the program is being abused and liberals pushing for continued protections. The bipartisan support for the bill in the House, including from six Republicans, highlights the complex and divisive nature of immigration policy in the United States.