House Republicans defy Trump to shield Haitians from deportation
A group of House Republicans defied President Donald Trump on Thursday to support shielding more than 350,000 Haitian nationals from deportation. Nine GOP lawmakers joined Democrats and one independent to...
By Fox News · Fox News
A group of House Republicans defied President Donald Trump on Thursday to support shielding more than 350,000 Haitian nationals from deportation. Nine GOP lawmakers joined Democrats and one independent to approve legislation that would allow Haitians to be eligible for the temporary protected status (TPS) program for another three years. Those Republicans included Reps. Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Mike Carey and Mike Turner, R-Ohio. Many in that cohort have large Haitian diaspora communities in their districts. The TPS program allows foreign nationals, whose home countries face humanitarian crises or dangerous conditions, to temporarily live and work in the United States without fear of deportation. It does not provide a pathway to citizenship. SUPREME COURT TO HEAR TRUMP CHALLENGE TO PROTECTED STATUS FOR SYRIAN, HAITIAN NATIONALS IN US The successful vote comes as the Trump administration has sought to revoke the TPS program for Haiti, arguing that conditions have improved in the country and that granting Haitians legal protections runs counter to American interests. The effort is currently stalled as the TPS termination works its way through the nation’s courts. The measure is largely symbolic due to resistance from Senate Republicans, who are not expected to hold a vote on renewing TPS for Haitians. Trump would almost certainly veto a TPS extension bill that clears Congress. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a member of "the Squad," used a legislative maneuver known as discharge petition to force a chamber-vote on the TPS extension bill. The effort would have been futile without the support of a handful of Republicans who signed Pressley’s discharge petition to reach the necessary 218 signatures and trigger a vote. Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., sponsored the resolution on the House floor. JUDGE HALTS HOMELAND SECURITY PLAN TO END TEMPORA…