A group of House Republicans broke with President Donald J. Trump and party leadership Wednesday, joining Democrats to advance legislation that would restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Haitian nationals living in the United States.
The measure, introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, cleared a key procedural hurdle in a 219–209 vote after supporters used a discharge petition to force it onto the House floor. The maneuver allowed the bill to bypass Republican leadership, marking a rare instance where members of the majority party joined with the minority to compel action on legislation leadership had not scheduled.
Six Republicans voted with Democrats to advance the bill: Reps. Don Bacon, Maria Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lawler, and Nicole Malliotakis.
They were joined by Kevin Kiley, who recently left the Republican Party but continues to caucus with GOP lawmakers.
The legislation would extend TPS protections for Haitian migrants for three years. TPS is designed for individuals from designated countries to live and work legally in the United States when conditions in their home countries—such as armed conflict or natural disasters—make return unsafe. The designation does not provide a path to permanent residency or citizenship but offers temporary legal protections.
Supporters of the bill framed the measure as both a humanitarian necessity and a practical policy response to conditions in Haiti.
Pressley argued that the country remains engulfed in instability, pointing to widespread gang violence, kidnappings, and the breakdown of basic governance.
Opponents of the measure argue that extending TPS undermines broader immigration enforcement efforts and conflicts with the Trump administration’s push to tighten eligibility for such programs.
The administration has sought to scale back TPS designations, arguing that the program has been expanded beyond its original intent and should be more strictly limited to temporary circumstances.
