More than 90 members of Congress have submitted a letter to a federal trial judge, urging a ruling in favor of Haitian immigrants.
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla., 20th District) announced Monday that they led 89 lawmakers in filing an amicus curiae brief before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in the case of Miot v. Trump. The filing challenges the Trump administration’s decision to end Haiti’s designation under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The lawmakers are asking the court to halt the program’s termination, stressing “the immense public interest” served by the presence of Haitian TPS holders in states and communities nationwide. In the brief, they warn that if the termination proceeds, “it will not only be a betrayal of the American promise; it will be a blow to American interests.”
At the announcement, Senator Markey underscored the worsening conditions in Haiti. “The humanitarian crisis in Haiti is dire and worsening, and Haitian TPS holders are unable to return home safely,” he said.
He accused the Trump administration of overstepping the law: “As Donald Trump unlawfully strips the Haitian TPS community of critical legal protections, we must protect the individuals who came to our country seeking safe harbor.”
The Massachusetts senator emphasized the deep ties of Haitian TPS holders to American society: “Haitian TPS holders are deeply rooted in Massachusetts and in communities across the country—they are our friends, our family members, our neighbors, and our colleagues. We must not turn our backs on them now.”
Cherfilus-McCormick: “This is about people’s lives”
Representative Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents South Florida’s 20th District, spoke about her personal connection to the issue: “I understand firsthand how vital TPS is for families fleeing Haiti’s ongoing crises.”
She warned against forced return: “Sending them back now would be both dangerous and inhumane. This amicus brief highlights that reality.”
In her statement, she pledged to continue pressing the case: “I’m proud to stand with Senator Markey and advocates to protect Haitian nationals. This is about more than policy; it’s about people’s lives. I will continue fighting for a just and compassionate immigration system that safeguards the Haitian diaspora.”
The brief was cosigned by a large number of senior Democratic lawmakers. In the Senate, signatories include Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).
TPS: A lifeline for Haitians in the U.S.
Temporary Protected Status has been granted to Haiti multiple times since the devastating 2010 earthquake, and extended due to natural disasters, political instability, and widespread violence. It allows Haitian nationals already in the United States to remain temporarily and receive work permits because conditions at home prevent safe return.
In their brief, lawmakers emphasized that Haitian TPS holders “participate fully in the economic, social, and community life” of the United States. They pointed to their contributions not only in key sectors of the economy, but also in civic and cultural life.
The filing warns that the Trump administration’s planned mass deportations would endanger the safety and integrity of families, separate parents from children, and deprive local communities of essential workers.
The case of Miot v. Trump is a critical stage in the legal fight over Haiti’s TPS designation. Lawmakers argue that the administration’s decision is unlawful and violates U.S. humanitarian obligations.
For the signatories, the filing also sends a clear political message to Haitian communities living in the United States and to the broader American public, at a time when immigration is once again at the center of national debate.
https://ctninfo.com/?p=36869&preview=true
https://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanNewsMedia
