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S 4814

A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status.

119th Congress Introduced by Angela Alsobrooks and 18 co-sponsors

The bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status, granting eligible Haitians temporary lawful presence and work authoriza

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4814

Bill at a Glance

  • Bill: S. 4814
  • Session: 119
  • Jurisdiction: United States
  • Title: A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS)
  • Introduced: 2026-06-17; Read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Sponsors: Bipartisan group of 20+ Senate Democrats and independent-leaning lawmakers, led by notable supportive members (e.g., Schumer, Warren, Blunt Rochester, Bennet, King, Warnock, Gillibrand, Booker, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Murray, Hirono, Coons, Welch, Alsobrooks, Van Hollen)

Purpose and Intent

  • The primary aim is to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS to allow eligible Haitian nationals to remain in the United States temporarily during a designated period.
  • TPS is a humanitarian program that provides temporary lawful status to noncitizens from designated countries experiencing conditions such as armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions, preventing their removal and granting work authorization during the designation period.

Key Provisions (as implied by the bill’s title and typical TPS designations)

  • Designation Requirement: The bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS. This would establish Haiti as a TPS-designated country for a specified duration, subject to periodic review and extensions as allowed by law.
  • Eligibility & Benefits (embedded TPM framework):
    • Haiti nationals (and potentially eligible non-Haitian nationals with respect to derivative eligibility rules) could apply for TPS status, enabling:
    • Temporary lawful presence in the United States
    • Protection from removal (deportation) for the designation period
    • Authorization to work in the United States
  • Designated Period: The designation would be for a defined period, often ranging from 6 to 18 months or longer under current TPS law, with the possibility of extension by the Secretary if conditions in Haiti persist.
  • Work Authorization: TPS beneficiaries would typically receive work authorization for the duration of their TPS status.
  • Documentation & Applications: The bill would authorize or require implementing processes for filing TPS applications, employment authorization documents, and renewal procedures as the designation period continues.
  • Derivative Benefits: If applicable, the bill could allow certain family members to obtain TPS-related status through derivative eligibility, consistent with DHS TPS regulations.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Haitian nationals present in the United States who meet TPS eligibility criteria (e.g., continuous physical presence, admissibility standards, and other DHS criteria) would gain temporary protected status.
  • Potential Employers: U.S. employers who hire TPS beneficiaries for work would be affected through ongoing employment authorization and related compliance requirements.
  • Immigration System Stakeholders:
    • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would administer TPS applications and renewals.
    • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DHS enforcement considerations could be affected by protection from removal for beneficiaries.
  • Families: Depending on the bill’s structure, eligible family members residing in the U.S. may receive derivative TPS benefits.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral:
    • Introduced in the Senate on 2026-06-17.
    • Read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the same day.
  • Next Steps (Typified by TPS Bills):
    • Committee review, potential markup, and vote.
    • If advanced, floor consideration in the Senate, followed by potential House action and presidential signature.
    • TPS designation periods are time-bound and subject to extension or termination by DHS based on evolving conditions in Haiti.
  • Sunset/Extension Provisions (typical TPS design): The bill may include authority or guidance to extend or renew TPS designation if conditions in Haiti warrant continued protection, subject to statutory procedures and DHS determinations.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Humanitarian Impact: Provides temporary protection and work authorization to individuals from Haiti affected by conditions that hinder safe return, reducing humanitarian precarity.
  • Immigration System Impact: Increases TPS-related demand on DHS/USCIS processing capacity and may influence family reunification dynamics and local labor markets.
  • Policy Implications: Signals a legislative stance to address Haitian displacement and humanitarian concerns, potentially influencing bilateral discussions and regional stability considerations.
  • Fiscal Considerations: TPS administration involves costs (processing, work authorization, and potential enforcement implications); the bill may specify funding or require federal budgeting actions.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to specific sections you’re interested in (e.g., exact eligibility criteria, estimated fiscal impact, or a comparative look at TPS processes for other countries).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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