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Florida bishops urge senators to back bill extending Haitian temporary protected status to 2029

August 6, 2026 · 1 min read

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to Florida lawmakers urging them to support legislation that would extend temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian nationals living in the United States through 2029.

Eight Florida bishops, representing all six dioceses in the state, signed the Aug. 5 letter . They “urgently” asked Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Florida, “to bring about the passage of S. 4814 .”

The legislation will “offer certainty to our Haitian brothers and sisters in the short-term, while also working toward broader legislative reforms that include opportunities for long-time residents of our communities to regularize their status,” they wrote.

The U.S. House of Representatives advanced the bill that would extend TPS for Haiti through 2029 in April, and the measure has stalled in the Senate.

The bishops further expressed “deep pastoral concern in response to the current state of our immigration system and the human realities involved.”

“The situation is especially daunting for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, Venezuelans, and others who have been relying on temporary protected status (TPS) to live and work lawfully…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Show original

Florin Matei

The Catholic Church in Florida is doing well to get involved so directly. I read that the eight bishops signed the letter on August 5th and are calling for the extension of TPS until 2029 for Haitians. Still, I wonder why Republican Senators Scott and Moody haven't moved until now, when the bill has already passed the House. These people need clear stability, not just promises.

Spiro Kristo

Well, Catholic bishops from all six Florida dioceses signed the letter on August 5. But I don't understand why Scott and Moody, who are Republicans, haven't made a move so far on S. 4814 – aren't they afraid of votes in the Senate? This issue affects many people who have been working here for years.

Დ

დავით ბერიძე

Yes, I remember how Haitians even worked in Batumi a few years ago, some in construction. It's good that these eight bishops are writing to senators on August 5th that they are thinking pastorally about the people, but I still don't understand why Scott and Moody didn't move this S. 4814 in the Senate. It's a bit strange.

Მ

მაია ჯავახიშვილი

Yes, David, I also remember them at the construction sites in Batumi - my brother worked there and said that they were very durable. But why they didn't move in the Senate is really strange, maybe it's political games. What do you think, what could be the real reason?

Ქ

ქეთევან ლომიძე

Yes, David, I also remember them during construction in Batumi - one of my neighbors remembered how they carried bags of cement from morning to night. But the letter of the bishops is still correct, they think pastorally about the people. What political interest do you think Scott and Moody are pursuing in this matter?

Ლ

ლელა ჯავახიშვილი

Yes, David, I remember him telling my neighbor how the Haitians were working on the new building in Batumi and were satisfied with only one loaf of bread in the evening. The bishops have written the pastoral part well, but you still wonder why Scott didn't support this law - do you think the election messed with his head?

Თ

თეა ლომიძე

You are right, Ketevan, you will definitely see a lot of hard work at the construction sites in Batumi. But I still don't understand why TPS should be extended until 2029 when nothing has changed in Haiti for years. What do you think, when should this temporary protection be transferred to a permanent status?