ICYMI: What They’re Saying About Rep. Gillen's Bipartisan Bill to Extend TPS for Haitians for Three Years Passing in the House
The Legislation Was Gillen’s First She Introduced in Congress
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) passed her bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 law-abiding Haitians in the United States for three years. The bill’s passage by a bipartisan vote of 224 to 204 follows Rep. Gillen’s ongoing fight, alongside her Republican colleagues, to push back on the Administration’s attempts to terminate the program.
Last month, a discharge petition led by Haiti Caucus Co-Chair Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) to force a vote on Rep. Gillen’s bill received the 218 signatures needed to progress in the House. Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) co-signed the petition and was an original cosponsor of Rep. Gillen’s legislation.
Here’s what they’re saying about the passage of Rep. Gillen’s TPS legislation:
Newsday: House passes Gillen's bill to reinstate protected status for Haitians
“The U.S. House on Thursday approved a bill sponsored by Long Island Democrat Laura Gillen to reject part of President Donald Trump's immigration policy and reinstate protected status for nearly 350,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States.
“The bill was the first measure introduced by freshman Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) upon her arrival in Washington last year as a minority party member — and now is her first that has passed.
“Gillen, in remarks at a news conference Wednesday with other lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River), an original co-sponsor of the bill, said the situation in Haiti is volatile and declining, not improved. Forcing Haitians in the United States to return there now would be, in Gillen’s words, ‘cruel’ and ‘a human catastrophe.’”
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The New York Times: House Votes to Preserve Deportation Protections for Haitians, Rebuking Trump
“Democrats on Thursday countered that the administration’s decision ignored the facts on the ground. Representative Laura Gillen, Democrat of New York and one of the bill’s sponsors, called the administration’s effort ‘cruel’ and ‘misguided,’ pointing to the State Department’s own description of the country.
“‘The Department of State’s website explains that it is too dangerous for American citizens to travel to Haiti because of kidnapping, rampant crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care,’ said Ms. Gillen, whose Long Island district includes a significant Haitian population. ‘How then can we say it’s perfectly safe to force Haitians to go back there?’”
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The Washington Post: House votes to restore protections for Haitians, defying Trump
“As the vote closed Thursday, Rep. Laura Gillen (D-New York), who first introduced the measure to reinstate temporary protected status for Haitians, was surrounded by other Democrats who aided her effort, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts).
“Lawler joined Gillen’s effort, noting that Haitian immigrants contribute largely to the health care industry in his district. He was joined by nine other Republicans, including Reps. María Elvira Salazar and Carlos A. Gimenez of Florida, who have also pushed for some protections for legal migrants.”
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AP News: House passes a bill to protect Haitian immigrants, in slap back to the Trump administration
“Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., whose district includes Long Island’s Haitian community, said she promised constituents she would work to protect their status. She introduced the legislation with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York as soon as she took office last year.
“‘It’s cruel to expect Haitians to be forced to return to these deadly, dangerous conditions,’ she said at a news conference. ‘Human lives are at risk.’
“Lawler said there are differences of opinion on immigration policy, but that Haitian immigrants have become vital to his community and forcing them out would be unjust and unwise.”
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The Guardian: US House approves bill to shield 350,000 Haitians from deportations
“The 224-204 vote saw 11 members of the House Republican conference join with all Democrats to pass the New York Democrat Laura Gillen’s bill to continue temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians, a designation that allows them to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation.
“Gillen called the vote ‘a pivotal milestone in the fight to protect the hardworking members of our community from the horrors in Haiti. Now I urge the Senate to take up this measure and to protect our Haitian friends and neighbors.’”
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The Haitian Times: House passes bill to extend TPS for Haitians
“Rep. Laura Gillen, a New York Democrat who introduced the bill and whose district includes Long Island’s Haitian community, also framed the vote as urgent, pointing to worsening conditions in Haiti and the risks of deportation.
“‘It’s cruel to expect Haitians to be forced to return to these deadly, dangerous conditions,’ Gillen said. ‘Human lives are at risk.’
“Gillen said Haitian immigrants in her district and across the country are deeply integrated into their communities, working in health care, education and small businesses.”
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Spectrum News 1: House advances legislation preserving Haitian TPS in rebuke of president
“Last year, Lawler and Long Island Democrat Laura Gillen teamed up to put forth the underlying legislation.
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spent Monday on Long Island with Gillen supporting the legislation.
“‘This is tantamount to a death sentence right now because the violence in Haiti is so bad right now,’ Gillen said.
“Mimi Pierre-Johnson, who runs the Elmont Culture Center on Long Island, spoke at the Monday roundtable with Rep. Gillen and Leader Jeffries. She immigrated to Brooklyn from Haiti at the age of 9.
“‘There is a beating heart for where I was born. And it hurts when people just talk and [do] not do their research,’ she told Spectrum News.”
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Patch: Bill To Extend Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status Passes House
“For Gillen, also up for reelection this year, the passage of HR 1689 through the House is a happy occasion. The former Hempstead Town Supervisor said the repeal of TPS for Haitians would have been devastating for Haitians in the United States, previously telling Patch the current situation in Haiti is exactly the sort of situation the immigration protection was created to remedy.
“‘The push will go on after this important victory. I urge the Senate to take up this measure and show the compassion and good sense to protect our Haitian community members,’ Gillen said.
“Earlier this week, Gillen joined House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages in Elmont to speak to leaders and members of the Haitian community there.
“For Leone, Gillen's advocacy on the issue of TPS meant a great deal.
“‘Laura Gillen, the congresswoman, she's advocating on behalf of the Haitian community because she knows what the Haitian community's about,’ Leone said. ‘That's amazing, because we feel like sometimes we don't have a voice. We feel like sometimes people don't listen to us.’”
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