dailyloe.com – The U.S. House voted on Thursday to extend temporary protected status for Haitian migrants through 2029. The vote was split 224-204, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to approve the resolution. The measure aims to curb President Trump’s immigration crackdown. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts, led the effort. She used a congressional procedure called a discharge petition to force a vote. Pressley issued a statement after the bill’s passage. She called it a monumental victory in a long-fought battle.
“This is a monumental victory in a long-fought battle to protect the safety, dignity, and humanity of our Haitian neighbors,” Pressley said. She noted Democrats and Republicans came together to support the policy. Pressley said it is the right and humane thing to do.
Many Republicans who voted for the measure are from competitive districts. These include districts in New York facing the upcoming midterm election. The Republicans in favor included several Florida representatives. They were María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, and Mario Diaz-Balart.
Ohio Representatives Mike Carey and Mike Turner also voted for the bill. The legislation now moves to the Senate. It faces an uphill battle against a Republican majority there. The White House has stated President Trump would veto the bill if it passes.
“The Administration understands members have to vote their districts at times,” the White House told NPR. The statement called the bill terrible and said it is going nowhere. A veto threat has been issued. The administration is focused on enforcing federal immigration law.
It stated the administration is putting American citizens first. Haiti is one of more than a dozen countries targeted by Trump. The goal is to strip temporary protected status for their citizens. TPS provides a safe haven for foreign nationals.
It is for those whose home countries face armed conflict or natural disasters. It also applies to other temporarily unsafe conditions. Haitians were granted protections in 2010 under President Obama. This followed a devastating earthquake that rocked the country.
