HR 1689 would require the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haiti until April 2029.
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and what is happening now?
- Temporary Protected Status is a designation given to a country experiencing conflict or disaster. Eligible nationals of the designated country are protected from deportation and eligible for a work permit.
- TPS is meant to be temporary and does not provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence or grant any other immigration status.
- The secretary of Homeland Security has authority to designate, extend, and terminate TPS for a country. In 2025, former Secretary Kristi Noem announced a termination date of February 3, 2026, for Haitian migrants, stating there were "no extraordinary and temporary conditions" in Haiti.
- On February 2, a federal judge paused the termination of TPS for Haitians. After reaching the Supreme Court, a 6-3 ruling was released on June 25, 2026, that gave the executive branch permission to terminate the TPS designation and humanitarian protections for more than 350,000 Haitians residing in the United States.
While this decision impacts the protected status designations for more than just Haitian nationals, HR 1689 to extend TPS for Haitians is currently the only bill in Congress advocating for the extension of the status to a group of beneficiaries.
What is happening in Haiti?
- Waves of violence by armed groups have destabilized Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
- Armed groups have control over roads and key farming areas, while authorities have little to no presence in some areas.
- More than 1.4 million people have been forced from their homes in Haiti.
- The State Department has placed Haiti under its highest travel advisory -- "Do Not Travel" -- due to "risk of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited health care."
What happens if TPS for Haitians ends?
Tell your senator to support the TPS extension for Haitian migrants. When writing your letters, consider the following:
- Choose one example from the points above to focus on.
- Tell why this matters to you.
- Be concise!
Finally, we invite you to follow up with a quick phone call to your legislators. If you tap the phone icon
below, it will auto generate the phone numbers for each of your legislators along with helpful tips and talking points.