Thursday, October 1, 2026
Three days after the Elmont roundtable, Rep. Laura Gillen’s legislation passed in the House in a bipartisan 224–204 vote.
The bill, Gillen’s first introduced in her role in Congress, extends Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals for three years and directs the Department of Homeland Security to maintain Haiti’s TPS designation through April 20, 2029. It now heads to the Senate.
"I was proud to lead the bipartisan effort to extend TPS for law-abiding and taxpaying Haitians who would face horrific conditions if forced back to Haiti. Not only would this threaten lives, it would also have a devastating effect on our economy.”
She urged continued attention to the issue, adding, “The push will go on after this important victory.”
The legislation advanced after a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley secured the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote. Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, was among the original co-sponsors.
Gillen has prioritized TPS protections since entering Congress, first introducing the bill in February and later opposing efforts to end protections through legislative and legal channels.
In floor remarks, she cited State Department warnings of violence, kidnappings, and instability in Haiti, where armed gangs control much of the capital and more than 1.4 million people have been displaced.
“It is cruel to expect Haitians to be forced to return to these deadly conditions,” she said.
On Monday, speaking at a roundtable at the Le Spot Cafe in Elmont, Jeffries said House Democrats have secured enough support to force a floor vote on legislation that would extend TPS protections for roughly 350,000 Haitians living in the United States.
“All 214 House Democrats have signed on, joined by four Republicans, to reach the 218 signatures required to trigger a discharge petition,” Jeffries said. “So it is the expectation that the bill will be on the floor at some point later on this week," he later added.
Temporary Protected Status allows individuals from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the U.S. Haiti was first designated for TPS following the devastating 2010 earthquake, and ongoing instability has kept the designation in place.
Gillen emphasized the urgency of community advocacy, encouraging attendees to mobilize support beyond Democratic lawmakers.
“This is a real opportunity to engage your networks,” Gillen said to advocates and community members. "If you can activate people to call their office to encourage them to support this bill, that is how you can, you can help make sure it passes the House."
Local leaders and advocates described widespread fear among Haitian immigrants who face the possibility of losing legal protections.
Gillen acknowledged the limitations of temporary measures and pointed to broader legislative efforts, including bipartisan immigration proposals aimed at creating pathways to legal status.
“Our immigration system has been broken for a long time,” she said. Gillen is among the original Democratic co-sponsors of the bipartisan Dignity Act, a proposal backed by lawmakers from both parties that would create a pathway to legal status for long-term U.S. residents.
In addition to legislative efforts, Democrats are also pursuing legal action. Jeffries noted that House Democrats have filed an amicus brief in support of a Supreme Court case challenging the termination of TPS protections.
Among those speaking was community leader Mimi Pierre-Johnson, who emphasized the importance of grassroots voices.
“As an organizer, we get to hear the voices of people that you will never hear or see,” she said, adding she was “excited” and “happy because you kept the word… not just with words, but with legislation.”
Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages and Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages participated in the discussion to help garner support for the upcoming TPS vote.
