Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) hailed the passage of a discharge petition aimed at extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants in a social media post on Friday after the measure passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans in the House.
But not long after, Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) blasted the passage in the lower chamber, proclaiming that the measure had zero chance of advancing. “This is dead on arrival in the Senate,” Britt wrote in a post.
“Temporary Protected Status is just that: temporary,” Britt said. She added that she opposes policies she believes expand immigration protections beyond their intended scope.
Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, allows nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States for a limited period due to conditions such as natural disasters or armed conflict.
Opponents have raised concerns about the long-term use of the designation. They have argued that repeated extensions move beyond the original intent of the program.
In addition to Britt, the White House also made it clear that the extension had no chance of being signed into law by President Trump.
Other Republican senators also expressed opposition to the House action. Several posted statements on social media indicated they would not support extending TPS.
Sen. Eric Schmitt said he plans to oppose the measure if it reaches the Senate. “This is how a nation loses control of its immigration system: not all at once, but through endless ‘temporary’ exceptions,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt referenced prior TPS designations for Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. He said he believes extending the designation further would effectively create a long-term policy.
“I will fight to stop this in the Senate,” Schmitt said. He said he views the proposal as inconsistent with immigration enforcement goals.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn also said she opposes the measure. She indicated she would work to prevent the resolution from advancing.
“As long as I have a say, I will make sure this resolution never sees the light of day,” Blackburn said. She did not elaborate further on her position in that statement.
Sen. Bernie Moreno criticized the House bill as well. He said he believes the proposal could impact broader immigration policy.
“It’s called TEMPORARY protected status (TPS) for a reason,” Moreno said. He added that he opposes expanding the program.
The House vote followed support from a small group of Republicans who joined Democrats in backing the discharge petition. That process allows legislation to move forward without leadership approval if enough members sign on.
The Trump administration previously moved to end TPS designations for several countries, including Haiti. Those efforts have faced legal challenges in federal courts.
The issue is currently before the Supreme Court of the United States. Oral arguments related to TPS policies are scheduled for April 29.
Legal experts have said the outcome could clarify the scope of executive and congressional authority over immigration protections. The decision may also affect future use of TPS designations.
Senate leaders have not indicated when or whether the House measure will be brought up for consideration. Republican opposition suggests the proposal faces significant obstacles moving forward.