The Honorable Alex Padilla
The Honorable Adam B. Schiff
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
RE: Support S. 4814 – Protect Haitian Families and Preserve Temporary Protected Status
Dear Senators Padilla and Schiff:
We, the Catholic Bishops of California, respectfully urge you to support and help secure the immediate passage of S. 4814, which would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Congressional action is urgently needed to protect hundreds of thousands of Haitians whose safety, livelihoods, and families are now in jeopardy.
For the Catholic Church in California, immigration is not an abstract policy debate. In parishes, schools, health ministries, and Catholic Charities agencies throughout our state, we encounter families who have lived, worked, worshiped, and raised children in the United States for years. They are our parishioners, neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Many are now confronting the possibility of abruptly losing their lawful status and work authorization despite having complied with TPS requirements.
Recognizing the dire humanitarian crisis in Haiti, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1689 earlier this year on a bipartisan vote of 224–204. Its Senate companion, S. 4814, was introduced in June with the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. With protections for more than 300,000 Haitians now in jeopardy, time is of the essence. The Senate must act before families, employers, and communities experience consequences that will be both severe and difficult to reverse.
The potential termination of Haiti’s TPS designation is particularly alarming because the conditions that justified this protection remain unresolved. Haiti remains under a national state of emergency and continues to face widespread gang violence, political instability, kidnappings, displacement, and a severely diminished capacity to provide basic public services. The U.S. Department of State continues to maintain its highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti, and commercial flights from the United States to Port-au-Prince remain suspended. Under these conditions, the safe and orderly return of hundreds of thousands of people is neither realistic nor humane.
Suggestions that longtime TPS holders should simply have “adjusted their status” misconstrue the law. TPS does not provide an independent pathway to lawful permanent residence. Unless a person separately qualifies under one of the narrow categories established by Congress, no general path exists for that person to obtain lawful permanent residence—regardless of how long the individual has lived here, paid taxes, supported a family, or contributed to the community. Congress alone has the authority to create more realistic legal pathways, and its longstanding failure to do so cannot be blamed on families who have followed the law.
Catholic teaching recognizes the legitimate authority and responsibility of government to regulate immigration, protect its borders, and ensure public safety. That responsibility, however, must be exercised in a manner consistent with human dignity, due process, proportionality, and the protection of family life. National security and compassion for vulnerable families are not opposing principles. A just immigration system must uphold both.
In his message for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, Pope Leo XIV stated, “In every generation, those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character. To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.” That dignity does not depend upon a person’s nationality or immigration status.
We therefore respectfully ask you to:
- Cosponsor and actively support S. 4814;
- Urge Senate leadership and the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance the legislation without delay; and
- Continue working toward bipartisan immigration reforms that provide realistic opportunities for longtime residents to regularize their status and strengthen the common good.
As the Catholic Bishops of California, we remain committed to accompanying affected families and working with you and your colleagues toward an immigration system that is orderly, just and worthy of our nation’s highest values. We are grateful for your continued support of policies that uphold the dignity of immigrants and protect family unity. Please be assured of our prayers for you and for your service to our nation in this 250th year of its independence.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Catholic Bishops of California