In Washington, The House of Representatives has advanced legislation to restore temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian refugees for three years.
The bill (HR 1689) passed with support from all Democrats and 10 Republicans, including three from Florida: Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and María Elvira Salazar of Miami-Dade County.
Florida is home to about 49% of all Haitians living in the United States, making the state the most affected by the measure.
Díaz-Balart, a Hialeah Republican, defended his vote, citing ongoing instability in Haiti from natural disasters, corruption and violence.
“As my record shows, I have supported Temporary Protected Status for Haitians during times of crisis as a form of humanitarian protection,” he said.
Democrats, including the state’s only Haitian-American member, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Miramar, argued that mass deportations would harm South Florida’s economy.
Nine Florida Republicans voted against the bill. Critics, including Reps. Greg Steube and Randy Fine, opposed the extension, pointing to crimes allegedly committed by individuals on TPS.
The bill now moves to the Senate.
