Letter Calls on Executive Branch, Congressional Leaders to Take Action Ahead of Feb. 3 Deadline
Senator Nick Collins sent a letter co-signed by 68 of his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature urging federal leaders to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian communities living in the United States.
The letter was addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. It calls on the Department of Homeland Security to extend and redesignate TPS for Haiti and expresses support for congressional action to secure continued protections in the absence of executive action.
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian designation granted to citizens of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that make safe return impossible. Haiti’s TPS designation is currently set to expire on February 3, 2026. Without action, tens of thousands of Haitians who have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years could lose legal status and work authorization.
“The Haitian community is woven into the fabric of Massachusetts,” said Senator Collins. “They are our neighbors, colleagues, caregivers, and contributors to our Commonwealth in many different ways. There is no justification to end TPS for Haiti given the facts on the ground. Our state would not be the same, and our economy and our health care system would suffer a massive blow if TPS is not extended for Haiti. That is why we support congressional action to extend the legal status of the Haitian community under TPS.”
Conditions in Haiti remain dire. The U.S. Department of State continues to issue its highest-level travel advisory for the country, citing widespread gang violence, kidnappings, political instability, and the collapse of public safety and health care systems. Humanitarian organizations report that large portions of the country remain inaccessible and that conditions necessary for safe return do not exist. Forcing individuals to return under these circumstances would expose them to serious harm and further destabilize families and communities in Massachusetts and across the nation.
Senator Collins urged swift action ahead of the February 3 deadline and emphasized that extending TPS is both a humanitarian imperative and a practical necessity for maintaining community and economic stability in the Commonwealth.