WASHINGTON – In an unusual challenge to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that would extend deportation protections for approximately 350,000 Haitians currently residing in America.
The chamber approved the measure by a vote of 224-204, with some Republicans crossing party lines to support the bill alongside Democrats. The legislation would grant Haitians an additional three years of eligibility for Temporary Protected Status, even after the Department of Homeland Security moved to end these humanitarian safeguards.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where Republican leadership makes its prospects unclear.
Thursday’s vote demonstrates growing Republican willingness to oppose the White House on immigration matters, particularly as the Supreme Court considers whether the Trump administration can legally eliminate the deportation protections currently shielding Haitians.
Eleven lawmakers broke ranks with their party – ten Republicans and one independent – to support the Democratic-backed legislation.
Temporary Protected Status serves as a safety net for individuals from countries facing natural disasters, military conflicts, or other exceptional circumstances. The designation grants qualifying immigrants permission to work legally in the United States while protecting them from removal proceedings.
