December 01, 2022

Representatives Bush, Pressley, Jones Lead Letter Urging Biden Administration to Extend and Redesignate Haiti for TPS

Washington, D.C. (Nov. 30, 2022)—Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17), and 14 of their colleagues sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

 

“Given the deteriorating situation in Haiti, this Administration should prioritize humanitarian relief, especially given the positive impact that extending and redesignating Haiti for TPS will have for our nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “As Haitians face an unprecedented crisis in their home country, we strongly urge the Administration to extend the 2021 designation and redesignate Haiti for TPS, swiftly release the Federal Register Notice, and provide a minimum 180-day registration period for both current TPS holders and new beneficiaries under redesignation.”


Haiti is currently experiencing one of its worst outbreaks of violence in decades. Gang blockades at a fuel terminal left Haitians without essential supplies they need to survive. Haitian nationals in the U.S. who fled violence, persecution, and poverty have faced numerous barriers imposed by the Administration. Extending and redesignating Haiti for TPS would help protect Haitians against deportation, and enable them to work and travel in the U.S.

 

A copy of the letter can be found HERE.

 

Additionally, cosigners of this letter include Representatives Troy Carter (LA-02), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette D. Clark (NY-09), Val Demings (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Zoe Lofgren (FL-19), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Darren Soto (FL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

 

Congresswoman Bush has been a fierce advocate for human rights-centered immigration reform. In February, Congresswoman Bush led a letter with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) calling for a reversal of Title 42 and other anti-Black immigration policies.


###

 

Congresswoman Cori Bush sits on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, serves as the Progressive Caucus Deputy Whip, and proudly represents St. Louis as a politivist in the halls of the United States Congress.