Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-04-15

Wasserman Schultz, Frost Demand House Pass Measure to Extend Haiti TPS

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This press release from Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) was published on 2026-04-15 and titled "Wasserman Schultz, Frost Demand House Pass Measure to Extend Haiti TPS". It focuses on immigration and touches on taxes, Israel.

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Wasserman Schultz, Frost Demand House Pass Measure to Extend Haiti TPS

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) joined Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, and Rep. Laura Gillen (NY-04) for a press conference alongside colleagues and advocates calling for the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Last month, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support. Video of the press conference can be found here . Also joining were House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke, Congressman Mike Lawler, Maria Praeli, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at FWD.us, Joshua Bernstein, Director of Immigration, Service Employees International Union, Guerline Jozef, Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Patrice Lawrence, Co-Director, UndocuBlack Network. “Haiti is overrun by criminal gangs, who kidnap women and girls, extort residents for protection money, and kill with impunity. We must preserve their TPS and protect their lives and safety,” said Wasserman Schultz . “As a descendent of immigrants who fled repression and antisemitism, I'll always fight for law-abiding immigrant families who fled desperate circumstances and who work hard, pay taxes, pass criminal background checks, and contribute to our economy and communities.” “Extending TPS for Haiti is urgent and necessary,” said Frost. “I’ve been fighting to protect Haitian families in Central Florida because Haiti is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis marked by violence, instability, and a lack of basic safety. The House must act to protect these families, and the Senate must follow with the same urgency.” “For Haitian nationals, these deportation threats are not policy. They are a death sentence,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24). “My constituents have done everything right, and I refuse to stand by while they are sent back into violence, instability, and fear. Haiti is not safe, and we all know it. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I am demanding immediate action to extend TPS, protect these families, and stand with Haiti. I will keep fighting with everything I have until these families are protected and this injustice is brought to an end.” “Extending TPS for Haiti is not only the moral and humanitarian thing to do—it’s also good policy. It’s good for families, it’s good for our economy, and it’s good for America,” said Pressley. “Today the People’s House has an opportunity to pass our legislation to extend Haiti TPS and save lives. And we must do just that.” "Before I came to Congress, I made a promise to our Haitian community in Nassau County on Long Island that I would use my voice and work with anyone to help protect this community and their existing legal status here in the United States,” said Gillen. “That’s why the very first bill I introduced was a bipartisan bill to extend TPS for Haitians. Without this protection, they will be forced to return to the horrors in Haiti. It has kept hard-working, law-abiding, and taxpaying members of our community from certain death. I am proud that, with the partnership of my Democratic and Republican colleagues, including Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Mike Lawler, we were able to advance a discharge petition on this issue. This week, I intend to pass the very first bill that I introduced in Congress and deliver on a promise that I made before taking office to protect TPS for Haiti.” “Since the start of this administration, we’ve witnessed one attack after another on law-abiding immigrants,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5). “Families are being torn apart, and fear is becoming a twisted new norm across our communities. Extending TPS for our Haitian brothers and sisters would mark a crucial step toward reining in Trump’s terror. I’m deeply grateful to Reps. Pressley and Gillen for leading the fight to save lives, safeguard basic rights, and uphold the dignity our constituents deserve.” "I am proud to fight alongside my colleagues who have refused to stand by as the 350,000 Haitian TPS holders, whom we have come to call our neighbors, friends, and loved ones, are forced back to the same humanitarian turmoil, gang violence, exploitation, chaos, and instability that they narrowly escaped with their lives. These families embody what it means to be good, decent Americans, and they deserve more than to be treated as numbers in Donald Trump’s deportation machine,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “Temporary Protected Status is a promise. For the sake of our Haitian neighbors’ safety and futures, we must not break it.” "Haitian TPS holders are our family members, neighbors, and friends. They are parents raising kids here. They are caregivers, coworkers, and essential workers who contribute to the places we all call home," said Maria Praeli, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at FWD.us . "This bill isn’t just a statement about the

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Wasserman Schultz, Frost Demand House Pass Measure to Extend Haiti TPS WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) joined Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, and Rep. Laura Gillen (NY-04) for a press conference alongside colleagues and advocates calling for the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Last month, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support. Video of the press conference can be found here . Also joining were House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke, Congressman Mike Lawler, Maria Praeli, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at FWD.us, Joshua Bernstein, Director of Immigration, Service Employees International Union, Guerline Jozef, Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Patrice Lawrence, Co-Director, UndocuBlack Network. “Haiti is overrun by criminal gangs, who kidnap women and girls, extort residents for protection money, and kill with impunity. We must preserve their TPS and protect their lives and safety,” said Wasserman Schultz . “As a descendent of immigrants who fled repression and antisemitism, I'll always fight for law-abiding immigrant families who fled desperate circumstances and who work hard, pay taxes, pass criminal background checks, and contribute to our economy and communities.” “Extending TPS for Haiti is urgent and necessary,” said Frost. “I’ve been fighting to protect Haitian families in Central Florida because Haiti is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis marked by violence, instability, and a lack of basic safety. The House must act to protect these families, and the Senate must follow with the same urgency.” “For Haitian nationals, these deportation threats are not policy. They are a death sentence,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24). “My constituents have done everything right, and I refuse to stand by while they are sent back into violence, instability, and fear. Haiti is not safe, and we all know it. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I am demanding immediate action to extend TPS, protect these families, and stand with Haiti. I will keep fighting with everything I have until these families are protected and this injustice is brought to an end.” “Extending TPS for Haiti is not only the moral and humanitarian thing to do—it’s also good policy. It’s good for families, it’s good for our economy, and it’s good for America,” said Pressley. “Today the People’s House has an opportunity to pass our legislation to extend Haiti TPS and save lives. And we must do just that.” "Before I came to Congress, I made a promise to our Haitian community in Nassau County on Long Island that I would use my voice and work with anyone to help protect this community and their existing legal status here in the United States,” said Gillen. “That’s why the very first bill I introduced was a bipartisan bill to extend TPS for Haitians. Without this protection, they will be forced to return to the horrors in Haiti. It has kept hard-working, law-abiding, and taxpaying members of our community from certain death. I am proud that, with the partnership of my Democratic and Republican colleagues, including Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Mike Lawler, we were able to advance a discharge petition on this issue. This week, I intend to pass the very first bill that I introduced in Congress and deliver on a promise that I made before taking office to protect TPS for Haiti.” “Since the start of this administration, we’ve witnessed one attack after another on law-abiding immigrants,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5). “Families are being torn apart, and fear is becoming a twisted new norm across our communities. Extending TPS for our Haitian brothers and sisters would mark a crucial step toward reining in Trump’s terror. I’m deeply grateful to Reps. Pressley and Gillen for leading the fight to save lives, safeguard basic rights, and uphold the dignity our constituents deserve.” "I am proud to fight alongside my colleagues who have refused to stand by as the 350,000 Haitian TPS holders, whom we have come to call our neighbors, friends, and loved ones, are forced back to the same humanitarian turmoil, gang violence, exploitation, chaos, and instability that they narrowly escaped with their lives. These families embody what it means to be good, decent Americans, and they deserve more than to be treated as numbers in Donald Trump’s deportation machine,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “Temporary Protected Status is a promise. For the sake of our Haitian neighbors’ safety and futures, we must not break it.” "Haitian TPS holders are our family members, neighbors, and friends. They are parents raising kids here. They are caregivers, coworkers, and essential workers who contribute to the places we all call home," said Maria Praeli, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at FWD.us . "This bill isn’t just a statement about the