In April 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians until 2029, but the bill is currently stalled in the Senate (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-48050-haiti-flash-the-us-senate-rejects-the-democrat-bill-to-extend-tps.html).

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to Florida legislators urging them to support legislation extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals residing in the United States until 2029.

Eight bishops from Florida, representing the state's six dioceses, signed the letter, dated August 5. They urgently called on Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, both Republicans from Florida, to pass Bill S. 4814.

"This law will provide short-term security for our Haitian brothers and sisters, while also contributing to broader legislative reforms, including the possibility for long-time residents of our communities to regularize their status," they wrote.

The bishops also expressed their "deep pastoral concern for the current state of our immigration system and the human realities it creates."

"Many of these families find themselves without legal status or resources, while returning to their country of origin remains dangerous, impractical, and unreasonable given the situation there."

This letter follows the earlier appeal by the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, for compassionate immigration protection for Haitians with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) upon the expiration of their automatic work permit extensions on July 27. After the TPS expiration, Archbishop Wenski traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and advocate for the approximately 353,000 Haitian nationals with TPS in the United States.

S/ HaitiLibre