Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) stopped Senate Democrats from fast-tracking legislation that would have extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Haitian nationals, arguing that a program created for short-term emergencies has been transformed into a pathway for permanent residency.
The Missouri Republican objected to a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, preventing Democrats from moving the measure forward without a recorded vote. His objection means supporters of the legislation must now go through the normal legislative process instead of advancing the bill through an expedited procedural maneuver.
The showdown comes as the Trump administration continues efforts to wind down Haiti’s TPS designation after a recent Supreme Court ruling cleared away one of the largest legal barriers to ending the program.
