February 24, 2026

Media Contact: media@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, CA. — Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) applauds U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) for her continued leadership in championing a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension for Haitian nationals and filing a discharge petition that could compel the U.S. House of Representatives to take up legislation to extend TPS for more than 300,000 Haitians from the Republic of Haiti. We also thank the 155 members of Congress, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreis for signing the petition. We urge the 63 additional members of Congress to swiftly sign on to reach the 218 votes needed to proceed with this legislative process. The discharge petition — filed in the U.S. House — represents a mechanism that would bring the bill directly to the floor for a vote if the requisite number of signatures is gathered. 

TPS provides critical legal protections that allow individuals from countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary insecurity to remain in the United States and work legally without fear of deportation. Given the protracted humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, sustained TPS designation is essential to protecting families who have contributed to American communities for years.

“Haitian Bridge Alliance strongly commends Representative Pressley for her leadership in pursuing every viable legislative route, including the discharge petition, to ensure that Haitian TPS holders are not left in legal limbo and deported to a country that is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Thousands of Haitian families are vital contributors to local economies, schools, churches, and communities across the United States. We urge Members of Congress to stand with them, to sign on to the discharge petition, and to demonstrate through action that the United States values the dignity, safety, and economic contributions of Haitian TPS holders.” 

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ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and build solidarity and a collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”).
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