by Claudette David, Quixote Center Board Member
On April 16, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1689 to extend protected status for Haitians and it did not happen quietly.
It started with a discharge petition, H. Res. 965, led by Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-7). What followed was a succession of floor votes that included officially discharging the petition and a bill passage back to back. That alone is rare. That kind of moment does not come often.
I was in the Gallery watching it unfold in real time. The debate. The tension. The final vote: 224 to 204. Then, the reaction: cheers from Democrats, including members of "the Squad," and applause from Republicans. It was surreal.
I also listened as false claims were made that Haitians with TPS are draining the economy. I thought about my own experience. I was born in Washington, DC to two Haitian parents. Growing up, my father would randomly go out of his way to make it clear that we were not on public assistance. Not because there is anything wrong with it, but because that narrative about Haitians has always been wrong. Haitians come to the U.S. and work. Often more than one job. We contribute. We build.
This win is not just about a vote. It is about what happens when people care for others, organize, build coalitions, and refuse to be silent. It is also about Americans who are descendants of any country showing up in the political process and shaping outcomes.
Thank you to everyone who took action and reached out to your members of Congress. That mattered.
Now, we move forward. The U.S. Senate is next.
Call your Senators (202-224-3121). Stay engaged. And stand with us on April 29 outside the U.S. Supreme Court during the oral argument for Miot v. Trump.
There is more work ahead. But, April 16th was a reminder that even in a tumultuous political climate, the power is still with the people.
