Representative Ayanna Pressley’s discharge petition to force a vote on extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians has secured 137 signatures—out of the required 218—including two Republican lawmakers.
The bipartisan surge propels this legislative effort toward the 218-signature threshold required to force a House vote, circumventing Republican leadership’s obstruction of the bill.
Republican Brian K. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania’s 1st District became the second member of his party to sign the discharge petition on February 10, 2026, joining Republican Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida’s 27th District, who had added her signature on February 2, 2026.
Fitzpatrick’s support is especially notable as it shows Republican backing extends beyond Florida’s large Haitian community. Pennsylvania, though less often linked to the Haitian diaspora, still hosts a substantial Haitian immigrant population affected by the loss of TPS.
Salazar, whose South Florida district is home to a large Haitian population, was the first Republican to sign the petition — on the same day that Judge Ana C. Reyes issued her ruling suspending the TPS revocation.
The Path to 218 Signatures
With 137 signatures in hand, the petition requires 81 more to achieve the 218 needed to trigger a full floor vote.
If every House Democrat signs the petition, at least four Republicans will be needed to reach 218 signatures. With two Republicans already supporting, the effort needs at least two more members of the majority party to join.
In an exclusive interview with Caribbean Television Network, Representative Pressley expressed her determination to reach that goal.
“I won’t make any predictions, but I will say: don’t underestimate me and the strength of this coalition. I’m encouraged by our progress, and we just have to keep pushing. This is a matter of life and death.”
Pressley added that a New York congressman has indicated an intent to sign, which could bring the number of Republican signatories to three if confirmed.
The bill to extend TPS for Haiti was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 18, 2025, and was immediately referred to the House Committee on Rules.
After the Republican-controlled committee stalled, Pressley filed a discharge motion on January 22, 2026, designated as Petition No. 119-15.
A discharge petition is an infrequently used procedure that lets House members bypass committees and party leaders to force a floor vote. Obtaining signatures from an absolute majority—218 of 435—is required.
Representative Pressley noted, “Given the dysfunction of a Republican-majority Congress, Democrats are increasingly using the discharge petition tool. A discharge petition forces a vote on the full House floor and requires 218 signatures.”
Recent Precedents of Success
Pressley pointed to recent successes Democrats have achieved using this procedural strategy.
Pressley noted that Democrats have recently used this procedural strategy to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies and to release the Epstein files, demonstrating an ability to build bipartisan coalitions on certain issues to force votes that majority leadership has not scheduled.
The support from Republicans like Fitzpatrick and Salazar reflects the economic concerns raised by several Republican governors, most notably Ohio’s Mike DeWine.
Governor DeWine had publicly stated, “I think it’s a mistake to remove their Temporary Protected Status, because what that will mean when it happens is that they can no longer work. So you’ve got a whole bunch of people, thousands of people in Ohio who are working, earning a living, supporting their families, and contributing to the growth of the economy.”
Pressley echoed those economic concerns in her interview with CTN: “Ending TPS would severely impact key sectors of our economy. Health care systems, construction companies, and hospitality businesses rely heavily on Haitian TPS beneficiaries.”
A Bicameral Effort
The House effort is being coordinated with parallel initiatives in the Senate, where Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts has been a vocal advocate for extending Haitian TPS.
Senator Markey filed an amicus brief in the Miot v. Trump case, which was cited in Judge Reyes’s decision suspending the TPS revocation.
Pressley expressed appreciation for the partnership with Senator Markey and described the legislation as bicameral, noting that conversations with Republican senators are ongoing.
The discharge petition has become urgent amid the ongoing legal battle over Haitian TPS.
On February 2, 2026, federal Judge Ana C. Reyes suspended the revocation of TPS for Haiti, declaring Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision “null, void, and of no legal effect.” The suspension currently protects more than 350,000 Haitian TPS beneficiaries from deportation.
However, the Trump administration has announced its intention to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the ruling “lawless activism” and vowed that “the final word will not come from an activist judge legislating from the bench.”
Given this legal uncertainty, passing a bill through Congress—the discharge petition requires 218 signatures—would give more durable protections to Haitian TPS beneficiaries than a court ruling alone.
Pressley indicated there is no deadline for reaching 218 signatures.
“I don’t have a deadline. We keep pushing to reach 218 signatures because the stakes are urgent,” she said. “We are using both legal and legislative avenues — the interventions and protections that are needed must happen now.”
With 137 signatures secured and bipartisan support growing, Pressley’s discharge petition is among the most promising House legislative efforts to protect more than 350,000 Haitian TPS beneficiaries from policy changes.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, before Judge Reyes in the Miot v. Trump case, while efforts to collect the remaining signatures continue on Capitol Hill.
