A Third Republican Signs the Discharge Petition on Haitian TPS

Republican Representative Mike Lawler of New York’s 17th Congressional District signed the Discharge Petition No. 119-15 on Wednesday, seeking to force a full House floor vote on the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.

Lawler becomes the third Republican to sign the petition, bringing the total to 165. A total of 218 signatures is required for the petition to trigger a vote before the full House.

The petition was filed on January 22, 2026, by Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley. It seeks to compel the House to take up H.R. 1689, a bipartisan bill co-introduced by Lawler and Representative Laura Gillen (NY-04) that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to maintain Haiti’s TPS designation. The bill has been pending for more than a year without being brought to the House floor by chamber leadership.

During a meeting with immigration advocates and U.S. lawmakers, it was revealed that several Republicans were awaiting Lawler’s signature before committing. Now, if all House Democrats sign as expected, just one more Republican would be required to reach the 218-signature threshold.

Lawler had co-introduced H.R. 1689 over a year ago but had not signed the discharge petition until now, a delay that influenced other Republicans’ hesitancy. His action signals to colleagues who have remained undecided.

In a statement released after signing, Lawler was direct: “The situation in Haiti remains dire. Rampant gang violence, political instability, and a worsening humanitarian crisis make it clear that conditions on the ground have not improved. There is no doubt that sending individuals back into that environment is dangerous. For more than a year, my bill to extend TPS for Haiti has sat without a vote in the House. That is unacceptable.”

Lawler is the third Republican to join the petition. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida was the first Republican to sign, on February 2, 2026, followed by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania on February 10. All three represent competitive districts where Haitian, Cuban, and Latin American immigrant communities form a significant share of the electorate.

TPS for Haiti shields more than 350,000 Haitian nationals in the United States from immediate deportation. The status has been under threat since Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initiated legal proceedings to revoke it. That decision is currently the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by the National TPS Alliance, whose outcome could determine the fate of tens of thousands of Haitian families living in the United States. For many, the consequences are immediate: a father with a permit to work legally until 2027 now faces the prospect of removal in as little as ninety days, should the court rule against TPS. Families, students, and essential workers could see their lives upended almost overnight, underscoring the real-world stakes behind the ongoing legal battle.

Lawler, who represents Rockland County in the Hudson Valley — home to a sizeable Haitian community — has campaigned actively for months to preserve TPS. He has met with Haitian families, healthcare employers, and nonprofit organizations, sent multiple letters to President Trump and Secretary Noem, and coordinated a joint letter to the White House signed by Rockland County elected officials.

The discharge petition is a seldom-deployed congressional mechanism that allows 218 or more rank-and-file members — an absolute majority — to bypass the Speaker and force a bill onto the House floor, even over the objections of party leadership.

Lawler has used the tool before. In December 2025, he signed a Democratic-led discharge petition to force a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. His willingness to use the mechanism again underscores his approach as a lawmaker in a competitive district: breaking with party discipline when his constituents’ interests demand it.

The petition stands at 165 signatures, 53 short of the threshold. With about 213 Democrats expected to sign, only five Republicans need to join. With Lawler, Salazar, and Fitzpatrick already committed, two more Republican signatures would suffice.

Sources close to TPS advocates say several Republicans representing districts with significant Haitian and Caribbean populations had been watching Lawler’s position. His decision may clear the way for them to sign as well.

Even if the petition reaches 218 signatures and forces a House vote, the bill would still need to pass the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority. The legislative path remains uncertain. But a floor vote in the House would represent a significant political milestone, placing lawmakers on the public record on a question that directly affects hundreds of thousands of Haitian families across the United States.

CTN will continue providing updates on the signature count and judicial proceedings concerning Haitian TPS. In the meantime, advocates urge community members and concerned constituents to call or email their representatives, particularly those who have not yet signed the discharge petition, to make their voices heard during this critical moment. This concludes our current coverage; stay tuned for further developments.

https://ctninfo.com/?p=40398&preview=true
https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5579