A push inside the GOP to rein in immigration policy is spilling into open disagreement, with one lawmaker now moving to scrap Temporary Protected Status altogether.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) has introduced the Territorial Protection and Sovereignty Act, legislation that would fully repeal the TPS program and terminate all current designations.
The proposal lands just days after a break within Republican ranks. Ten GOP lawmakers — including Maria Salazar of Florida and Mike Lawler of New York — voted with Democrats to extend protections for Haitian migrants under a resolution led by Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).
Clyde’s bill would give current TPS recipients 60 days to leave the country. After that, they would no longer be considered lawfully present and would face deportation.
He argued the program has strayed far from its original purpose.
“Unfortunately, there has never been anything temporary about Temporary Protected Status. TPS has been weaponized and abused for decades, turning a so-called ‘temporary’ protection into permanent amnesty. It’s time for Congress to close this amnesty loophole once and for all by fully repealing TPS and sending all TPS holders out of the country,” Clyde wrote.
TPS was first granted to Haitian nationals in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake devastated the country, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions. The designation was repeatedly extended over the next decade, including multiple renewals under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Under former President Barack Obama, protections were extended several times through 2017. The program was later slated for termination in 2019 before being revived and expanded under President Joe Biden, citing political instability, natural disasters and the fallout from COVID-19.
Most recently, protections for Haiti were extended through February 2026.
Clyde dismissed arguments that TPS is necessary on humanitarian or economic grounds, framing the program as a liability for American workers.
“Proponents of TPS claim the designation is both compassionate and essential to our economy. In reality, America is not a charity or an international economic zone. Our entire focus must be on the safety, prosperity, and futures of American citizens, which is why shutting down America Last immigration policies like TPS is critically important,” he said.
The legislative push comes as some Republicans continue backing broader immigration proposals like the DIGNIDAD Act, which supporters say would tighten border security while offering legal pathways for certain undocumented immigrants. Critics, including Clyde and his allies, have blasted the measure as a backdoor amnesty plan.
The debate is also unfolding against the backdrop of a violent crime case cited by federal officials. The Department of Homeland Security said a Haitian national, Rolbert Joachin, was arrested after allegedly savagely killing a woman at a Fort Myers gas station on April 3.
According to DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement worked with local law enforcement to track him down following the attack.
The immigration fight is poised to reach the nation’s highest court next week. The Supreme Court of the United States is set to hear arguments on April 29 in Trump v. Miot and a related case, Mullin v. Doe, cases that could shape how immigration authorities handle enforcement and legal status moving forward.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
