This GOP Senator Just Blocked a Quiet Democratic Push That Would Have Kept Hundreds of Thousands in the Country

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) stood on the Senate floor and single-handedly blocked a Democratic effort to extend Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitians.

By objecting to a unanimous-consent request, Schmitt forced any extension to go through the normal legislative process rather than a quiet procedural shortcut. He argued the move would turn a temporary humanitarian program into permanent mass immigration.

Temporary Protected Status for Haiti began after the 2010 earthquake and was meant to last 18 months. Sixteen years later, roughly 350,000 Haitians still held the status after nine extensions under successive administrations.

A June 25 Supreme Court ruling in Mullin v. Doe cleared the way for the Trump administration to end the designation by limiting federal court review of non-constitutional challenges. Democrats responded with legislation to redesignate Haiti for several more years.

“Washington has invented a new definition of temporary. It means permanent,” Schmitt said. “Haitian TPS was supposed to be just 18 months when it began in 2010. 16 years later, 350,000 Haitians are still here.”

He accused Democrats of using the program as “Washington’s oldest immigration trick. Call it temporary, extend it forever, and cash in on the new voter base.” Schmitt added that the American people had voted to end what he called a “scam,” yet Democrats were trying to keep it alive.

The House had already passed a companion bill earlier in the year. Schmitt’s objection ensured the Senate version could not advance without debate and a recorded vote.