Overview:
With the February 2026 expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians approaching, members of the House Haiti Caucus have initiated a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation that would extend TPS for another three years. Lawmakers and advocates say ending TPS would not only displace Haitians but also disrupt critical sectors like elder care and health services that rely on immigrant labor.
As the February deadline for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians approaches, members of the House Haiti Caucus have initiated a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation that would extend Haiti’s TPS designation for three years. A discharge petition requires signatures from a majority of members of the U.S. House of Representatives to bypass committee review.
Speaking about the urgency of keeping Haitians in the United States during a press conference in Washington, D.C., this week, the coalition of lawmakers, advocates, and community groups emphasized that the issue extends well beyond immigration enforcement. They described it as both a humanitarian necessity and a pressing economic concern, particularly for the U.S. care economy.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat whose state is home to nearly 5,000 Haitian TPS holders, framed the effort as a moral and economic imperative.
“We cannot ignore the contributions of TPS holders who work in essential sectors like healthcare, elder care, manufacturing, and caregiving, sectors already strained by labor shortages and demographic shifts,” she said.
Flanked by immigrant advocacy organizations, labor unions, and business groups, lawmakers announced this latest move as part of a broader effort to protect TPS holders from deportation policies that would otherwise take effect. To force a floor vote, Pressley’s discharge petition must collect 218 signatures in the House.
TPS background and stakes
More than 350,000 Haitian nationals are currently covered under the TPS designation, a humanitarian immigration status allowing individuals from countries facing extraordinary crises to remain in the U.S. and work legally. Without an extension past the current Feb. 3, 2026, expiration date, Haitians on TPS would risk detention or deportation unless they qualify for other immigration pathways.
The push for a legislative vote unfolds amid ongoing controversy over federal handling of TPS for Haiti. The Trump administration moved to terminate Haiti’s designation, a decision partially blocked by a federal court that upheld protections through early 2026, highlighting deep divisions in immigration policy and humanitarian obligations.
Critics of the impending expiration argue that Haiti continues to endure severe instability — including widespread violence, displacement, and weakened public services — conditions frequently cited when TPS designations are first granted. They warn that stripping protections now could undercut years of economic contributions and fragment communities.
“Haiti is facing extraordinary instability, and forcing people back into crisis is indefensible,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “This petition focuses on protecting people who have built their lives here and contribute in meaningful ways to our communities, and I hope our Republican colleagues who speak often about public safety choose to support it.”
Role of TPS holders in the care economy
Groups such as the National TPS Alliance, SEIU, and LeadingAge have sounded alarms about the ripple effects the expiration could have on seniors and families who rely on long-term care services. Immigrants make up a large share of the direct care workforce — roughly 28% of direct long-term care workers nationwide — and serve as essential aides in nursing homes and home care settings.
With the U.S. population aged 65 and older projected to grow substantially by 2050 and demand for care rising accordingly, policymakers warn that losing experienced caregivers would only worsen existing workforce shortages.
Advocates and policymakers highlighted that immigrants are disproportionately represented in caregiving roles — especially home health and personal care aides — and that changes to TPS status could erode staffing at a time when demand is growing. They have cited a series of figures illustrating TPS holders’ role in healthcare and related fields, including:
- Haitian TPS holders contribute an estimated $35.9 billion annually to the U.S. economy
- TPS holders represent a significant share of non-citizen healthcare workers
- Immigrants comprise about 28% of direct long-term care workers
- The senior population (age 65+) is projected to rise significantly by 2050
LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan, whose organization represents nonprofit aging services providers, warned that many organizations would stand to lose critical workforce segments in a short period, including nursing assistants and support staff, if TPS protections lapse.
“Foreign-born workers are essential to the nation’s aging services sector, and recent immigration policy changes, such as the coming termination of Haitian TPS, are exacerbating the aging services’ sector’s well-documented and increasing workforce needs,” Sloan said.
“America’s population is rapidly aging. Demand for care is growing. And now, providers across the country are losing longtime, legally authorized caregivers, breaking trusted relationships and widening staffing gaps that directly threaten older adults’ access to needed care.”
Legal challenges underway
At the same time, the debate over TPS is playing out in federal courts. For example, NTPSA v. Noem, currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenges the federal government’s decision to terminate TPS for multiple countries, arguing that the Department of Homeland Security failed to justify its policy change under the Administrative Procedure Act and departed from prior country-condition assessments.
Plaintiffs in the case also raise constitutional claims alleging discriminatory intent. The federal government denies these allegations, asserting that TPS decisions comply with applicable law.
Adding to the uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order in late 2025 allowing the termination of TPS for Venezuelans to proceed while litigation continues, a procedural move known as action on the Court’s “shadow docket.”
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