Wasserman Schultz Statement on Appeals Court Ruling On TPS for Haitians and Venezuelans

Washington, January 29, 2026
“Last night's ruling in favor of TPS is a small measure of hope for my South Florida Venezuelan and Haitian constituents, who have seen more than enough pain and heartbreak. I supported this case from the start and I'm deeply grateful to all the attorneys and civil rights and labor advocates fighting tooth and nail to keep our communities safe.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Venezuela Democracy Caucus, issued the following statement after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling blocking the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians:

“Last night's ruling in favor of TPS is a small measure of hope for my South Florida Venezuelan and Haitian constituents, who have seen more than enough pain and heartbreak. I supported this case from the start and I'm deeply grateful to all the attorneys and civil rights and labor advocates fighting tooth and nail to keep our communities safe.

“The Haitian and Venezuelan TPS recipients in my district fled violence, corruption, and brutal repression. Despite passing repeated background checks, earning work permits, and attaining lawful status, the Trump Administration derides them as criminals to be collectively punished for the crimes of a few. 

“I've always been clear: violent criminals should be held accountable no matter where they're from or what uniform they wear. Honest, law-abiding people should be free to live their lives without fear of being sent back to the Trump-backed Venezuelan dictatorship or anarchy in Haiti while these countries remain clearly unsafe. By criminalizing lawful TPS holders, Trump diverts limited resources from deporting real threats and just drives up prices for all Americans by taking hundreds of thousands out of the workforce. 

“I proudly led more than 120 Congressional Democrats in an amicus brief supporting the National TPS Alliance in this case, and I look forward to taking this fight back to the Supreme Court to protect law-abiding immigrants from being brutalized by Trump's ICE thugs.”

Rep. Wasserman Schultz has led four Congressional amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, the primary case to overturn Trump's illegal efforts to vacate TPS for Venezuelans and Haitians. She is a lead sponsor of the Venezuela TPS Act, which would immediately redesignate protected status for Venezuelans, as well as the Venezuelan Adjustment Act, which would provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for law-abiding Venezuelan TPS recipients.

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"La decisión de anoche a favor del TPS es una pequeña medida de esperanza para mis constituyentes venezolanos y haitianos del sur de Florida, que han visto más que suficiente dolor y desamor. Apoyé este caso desde el principio y estoy profundamente agradecida con todos los abogados y defensores de los derechos civiles y laborales que luchan con uñas y dientes para mantener nuestras comunidades seguras. 
 
"Los beneficiarios haitianos y venezolanos del TPS en mi distrito huyeron de la violencia, la corrupción y la represión brutal. A pesar de superar verificaciones de antecedentes repetidas, obtener permisos de trabajo y alcanzar el estatus legal, la Administración Trump los ridiculiza como criminales que deben ser castigados colectivamente por los delitos de unos pocos. 
 
"Siempre he sido clara: los criminales violentos deben ser juzgados ante la ley sin importar de dónde vengan o qué uniforme lleven. Las personas honestas y respetuosas de la ley deberían ser libres de vivir sus vidas sin miedo a ser enviadas de vuelta a la dictadura venezolana respaldada por Trump o a la anarquía en Haití, mientras estos países siguen siendo claramente inseguros. Al criminalizar a los titulares legales de TPS, Trump desvía los recursos limitados para deportar amenazas reales y simplemente eleva los precios para todos los estadounidenses al sacar a cientos de miles de la fuerza laboral.
 
"Lidere con orgullo a más de 120 demócratas del Congreso en un amicus curiae apoyando a la Alianza Nacional TPS en este caso, y espero llevar esta lucha de nuevo al Tribunal Supremo para proteger a los inmigrantes respetuosos de la ley de ser brutalizados por los matones de ICE de Trump."