“This arbitrary ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is going to destabilize so many members of the Haitian community, but also all of us as our lives are all intertwined now with our neighbors and community members.” Liz Sweet Executive Director, MIRA Coalition
Congressional Hearing Highlights Haitian Community’s Vital Role
Just eight days after the 16th anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake that claimed over 200,000 lives and displaced 1.5 million Haitians, Massachusetts lawmakers held a field hearing on January 20, 2026, at Jubilee Christian Church in Mattapan to address the looming expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals. With just two weeks until the February 3 deadline, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) heard powerful testimony from community members, advocates, and business leaders about the devastating impact this decision would have on approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals nationwide—including roughly 4,700 TPS holders in Massachusetts—who face potential deportation.
Voices from the Community
The field hearing featured testimony from TPS holders, advocates, and organizations including the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, National TPS Alliance, Association of Haitian Women in Boston, American Business Immigration Coalition, Massachusetts Restaurants United, healthcare providers, and labor unions representing workers across multiple sectors.
Bruno, who fled Haiti after the 2010 earthquake destroyed his grocery store, spoke about rebuilding his life as an MBTA driver while working toward his commercial driver’s license. “We are profoundly grateful to the United States for welcoming us during that time of crisis,” he said. “My children have been brought up, been educated here, and become part of the fabric of Massachusetts. This is their home today.”
Davidson, a medical student and TPS holder, described the anxiety weighing on thousands: “We don’t know what’s going to happen. This decision is very, very stressful.”
Rev. Dr. Eno Mondésir, Senior Pastor of a predominantly Haitian congregation, testified about the comprehensive toll: “The decision to not renew TPS is a horrific blow that puts an entire community at risk on many fronts: economically, socially, psychologically and physically.”
Haitians are vital contributors to the “Main Street” economy, with significant presence in healthcare as home health aides and personal care workers, in childcare services, in transportation including many MBTA drivers, and in security and service industries. Approximately 4% of employed Haitians in Boston are business owners, creating jobs and economic opportunity throughout the region.
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program created by Congress in 1990 that shields immigrants from deportation when their home countries experience armed conflict, natural disasters, or extraordinary conditions. The program grants work authorization and protection from removal, allowing recipients to build stable lives in the United States while their home countries remain unsafe.
For Haitians, TPS has been a lifeline since the devastating 2010 earthquake. The designation has been repeatedly extended by both Democratic and Republican administrations due to ongoing crises in Haiti, including the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, widespread gang violence that now controls over 90% of Port-au-Prince, and catastrophic environmental disasters.
Lawmakers Condemn the Decision
Congresswoman Pressley, whose district represents the third-largest Haitian diaspora in the country, was unequivocal: “Terminating TPS for Haiti would be a death sentence for thousands of families living in Massachusetts and across our country, and devastating to the communities they enrich. Haitians who have built their lives here are at risk of deportation to a country that remains entrenched in political, economic, and humanitarian turmoil.”
Senator Markey offered a personal perspective from his hometown of Malden: “My neighbors are now Haitians in ward two in Malden, and they work hard. They work two jobs.” He detailed the dire conditions in Haiti, describing a country where gangs control much of the capital, with kidnappings and armed attacks blocking access to medical care, education, and commerce.
Congressman Moulton framed the issue through his experience responding to the 2010 earthquake as a veteran accompanying Boston medical teams. “What I witnessed in Haiti was the best of Boston, the best of Massachusetts, the best of America showing up to help those in need,” he said. Haitians who settled in Massachusetts have repaid that compassion by “strengthening the American quilt as their fabric has become interwoven with our own.” Allowing TPS to expire now would “tear all that apart.”
Legal Challenges and Uncertain Future
The hearing took place as federal litigation challenges the Trump administration’s decision. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is expected to rule by February 2—just one day before the protections expire—on whether to block the termination while the lawsuit proceeds.
The decision marks a reversal from 18 months ago, when the Biden administration extended Haiti’s designation through February 3, 2026, citing ongoing violence, political instability, and environmental disasters. The Trump administration claims environmental conditions have improved sufficiently for safe return—a claim vigorously disputed by lawmakers and human rights organizations who point to worsening gang violence, widespread displacement, and catastrophic humanitarian needs affecting 5.5 million Haitians.
Testimony from the hearing will be entered into the Congressional Record and will inform immediate oversight and legislative efforts. As February 3 approaches, thousands of families remain in limbo, uncertain whether they will be able to continue working legally, remain with their U.S. citizen children, or face deportation to a country in crisis.
What You Can Do
Support the lawsuits challenging the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status filed by The National TPS Alliance and civil rights groups. Use this link to their Take Action page for easy ways to make your voice heard and support their work.
