Urge the US Senate to protect Haitians at risk by supporting Temporary Protective Status legislation

[Jesus] said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:26-27 

Love, the central commandment, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 10:7). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) practices this deep love of God and neighbor by accompanying and advocating together with migrants for policies that protect human dignity.

Through decades of General Assembly policy, the denomination recognizes that faithfulness requires standing alongside those who face displacement, persecution, and uncertainty. It is the practice of caring for neighbors that allows our communities to be stronger together as this love bears all things and hold witness to God’s wholeness. 

On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision allowing the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for more than 330,000 Haitians living in the United States, as well as people from other nations, including Syria. As a result, longtime church members, community leaders, neighbors, workers, and parents face the threat of losing legal protections and work authorization. Haitians offer key voices to advocacy efforts and contribute crucial ways of supporting local communities and standing with them. As scripture teaches, when one member suffers, we all suffer together.   

As our nation threatens their deportation, Haiti continues to experience severe humanitarian and security challenges, including escalating violence and political instability.  

Congress must act. Lawmakers can stop this devastating policy reversal. Congress can allow our neighbors to continue working and worshiping safely alongside us.   

The House passed legislation extending TPS protections for Haitians through 2029, and an identical bill, S. 4814, has been introduced in the Senate. Senate leadership needs to hear from people of faith now. See the Action Alert here to contact your senators.

“TPS has been a lifeline for communities in the United States when upheaval has occurred in their country of origin,” said Amanda Craft, Manager of Immigration Advocacy in Presbyterian Life & Witness. “It brings stability and security to TPS recipients who have in turn been able to invest in local communities in the United States as well.”

“The termination of the status for individuals from Haiti and Syria counters our understanding of love and mercy and places beloved members of our communities in precious circumstances.

Take action today 

• Pray for our Haitian members, community leaders, and neighbors
• Contact your two U.S. senators and urge them to: 
• Support and co-sponsor S. 4814
• Vote to extend and redesignate TPS for Haiti
• Oppose policies that strip humanitarian protections from vulnerable immigrants
• Uphold the dignity and safety of Haitian families and communities.  

Learn about  

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Social Witness Policy  
•  Presbyterian Disaster Assistance direct aid and resettlement support to refugees 
• Presbyterian Advocacy at the Supreme Court 

Sample email 

Subject: Protect Haitian Families and Support S. 4814 

Dear Senator, 

As a Presbyterian and your constituent, I write to urge you to support S. 4814, legislation that would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for Haitians through 2029. 

Scripture repeatedly calls God's people to welcome, accompany, and protect those whose lives are threatened. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has consistently affirmed the dignity of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and supported policies that keep families safe. 

More than 330,000 Haitians currently rely on TPS protections. Many have lived in the United States for years, building families, congregations, businesses and communities. The recent Supreme Court decision has placed these neighbors at risk despite continuing instability and violence in Haiti.  

I urge you to: 

1. Co-sponsor and support S. 4814. 
2. Vote for legislation extending TPS protections for Haitians. 
3. Exercise congressional oversight regarding efforts to terminate humanitarian protections. 
4. Stand with Haitian families who are seeking safety, stability, and the opportunity to contribute to their communities. 

 As people of faith, we believe every person bears the image of God and deserves dignity, protection, and welcome. 

Thank you for your leadership and service. 

Sincerely, 

[Name] / [City, State]  

Sample phone script  

Hello, my name is [Name], and I am a constituent from [City, State]. I urge Senator [Name] to support and co-sponsor bill S. 4814, which would extend Temporary Protected Status protections for Haitians through 2029. More than 330,000 Haitians are at risk following the recent Supreme Court decision, while Haiti continues to face significant violence and instability. As a Presbyterian, I believe scripture teaches centering the dignity of all. Helping communities thrive through the accompaniment of migrants is not simply a policy preference but an expression of Christian discipleship. I believe our nation should protect vulnerable families, show compassion, and uphold humanitarian commitments. Please ask the Senator to support S. 4814 and stand with Haitian communities. Thank you.