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N.J. A.G. Davenport: 2025 State Recoveries Reach $193 Million
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 23 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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AG Davenport: 2025 State Recoveries Reach $193 Million
Civil enforcement efforts recouped $193 million for the State of New Jersey in 2025, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced today. Settlements in 2025 included--among other things--the State's largest-ever non-Medicaid False Claims Act settlement.
The amount does not include settlements that are awaiting approval by a court--including, for example, New Jersey's landmark settlements against major
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 23 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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AG Davenport: 2025 State Recoveries Reach $193 Million
Civil enforcement efforts recouped $193 million for the State of New Jersey in 2025, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced today. Settlements in 2025 included--among other things--the State's largest-ever non-Medicaid False Claims Act settlement.
The amount does not include settlements that are awaiting approval by a court--including, for example, New Jersey's landmark settlements against majorcompanies in connection with PFAS contamination, which were valued at over $2.5 billion and included the largest single-state environmental settlement in U.S. history.
"I am so proud of the dedicated team in the Division of Law, who work tirelessly every day to defend New Jerseyans against consumer fraud, environmental wrongdoing, financial scams, and more" said Attorney General Davenport. "We will continue to stand up for New Jerseyans in court and protect New Jerseyans from unlawful practices that drive up costs for consumers and make our communities less safe."
"Public service is a calling and is exemplified by the 500 attorneys and legal staff within the Division of Law," said Michael C. Walters, Director of the Division of Law. "The Division's attorneys and staff work tirelessly on the thousands of matters handled to achieve the best possible outcome for the State and its residents, whether the matter involves a recovery or payment by the State."
These are the top settlements received by New Jersey in 2025:
Horizon Healthcare Services ... $100,000,000.00 ... Horizon Healthcare False Claims Act
Solvay ... $33,950,000.00 ... Arkema Judicial Consent Order
Lyf t... $19,435,087.05 ... Lyft Driver Misclassification
Daimler/Mercedes ... $11,066,162.00 ... Mercedes Consumer Fraud, Environmental Claims
Financial Services for America ... $2,217,055.73 ... Financial Services Mortgage Relief Scheme
Township of North Wildwood ... $1,700,000.00 ... North Wildwood ACO
ADS Renovation Group... $1,699,174.93 ... ADS Renovation Group Final Order
Presperse Corporation ... $1,667,830.29 ... Presperse Corp. Proof of Claim
MV Realty PBC ... $1,500,000.00 ... MV Realty Consumer Misrepresentation
The amount recovered by the State reflects judgments or settlements obtained by the State. It does not reflect other forms of relief obtained in some of those matters that directly benefit victims, such as restitution for defrauded consumers or investors, balance forgiveness, and/or debt relief.
Separately, litigation-related settlements and judgments paid by the State in 2025 totaled approximately $189 million.
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-2025-state-recoveries-reach-193-million/
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Opposes EPA's Rollback of PFAS Limits in Drinking Water
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 23 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Opposes EPA's Rollback of PFAS Limits in Drinking Water
This week, Attorney General Mayes filed comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rollback on limits to four PFAS "forever" chemicals in drinking water. The rollback means that public drinking water systems won't be required by federal law to test for these chemicals, report how much of them are in our public drinking water, or treat drinking water to remove these chemicals
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PHOENIX, Arizona, July 23 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 22, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Opposes EPA's Rollback of PFAS Limits in Drinking Water
This week, Attorney General Mayes filed comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rollback on limits to four PFAS "forever" chemicals in drinking water. The rollback means that public drinking water systems won't be required by federal law to test for these chemicals, report how much of them are in our public drinking water, or treat drinking water to remove these chemicalsso people don't ingest them.
"The dangers of forever chemicals in drinking water are well documented," said Attorney General Mayes. "This is not the time to be rolling back limits of these toxic chemicals. Eliminating protections already in place will only further jeopardize the health of Arizonans."
The United States is going through a PFAS contamination crisis. Nearly 10,000 areas in the United States have been found to be contaminated by PFAS and more than 170 million people drink water that has tested positive for PFAS. These forever chemicals can be toxic to people and animals at very low concentrations. They leach into groundwater and surface water through manufacturing materials, discharges and emissions from manufacturing facilities, and other sources. They don't degrade and are difficult to remove from the environment, so they're a long-term public health danger. Research has shown that PFAS are linked to damage to the thyroid, liver, kidney, immune system, blood, and reproductive systems.
Two years ago, EPA put in place a final rule to regulate the presence and amount of four PFAS chemicals - including GenX - in public drinking water. That rule was adopted under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which gives EPA the authority to set such national standards for chemicals and contaminants in our water. EPA went through a years-long process to adopt this rule, including conducting research and analysis and asking for public feedback.
Now, EPA is proposing to eliminate this rule entirely for four important PFAS, including GenX, without providing any good reason. The agency hasn't analyzed how this rollback would impact drinking water or people's health, and didn't consider taking a narrower action or trying a different solution instead.
Attorney General Mayes and the coalition of attorneys general filed comments reminding EPA that this action is illegal and arbitrary. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act has a specific provision to protect public health that prevents EPA from backsliding on its regulations. That's exactly what the EPA is trying to do here. Eliminating these protections would put people's public health at risk, and the attorneys general are asking the EPA to not rescind the 2024 rule.
Attorney Genera Mayes is joined in filing these comments by the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-opposes-epas-rollback-pfas-limits-drinking-water
N.J. A.G. Davenport Sues Trump Administration Over Rule Weakening Regulation of Highly Potent Greenhouse Gas Linked to Climate Change
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 22 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 21, 2026:
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AG Davenport Sues Trump Administration Over Rule Weakening Regulation of Highly Potent Greenhouse Gas Linked to Climate Change
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), challenging its rule that would weaken regulations designed to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in commercial equipment, such as air conditioning and refrigeration.
HFCs
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 22 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 21, 2026:
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AG Davenport Sues Trump Administration Over Rule Weakening Regulation of Highly Potent Greenhouse Gas Linked to Climate Change
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), challenging its rule that would weaken regulations designed to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in commercial equipment, such as air conditioning and refrigeration.
HFCsare chemicals used for refrigeration and cooling that are up to 10,000 times more potent climate pollutants than the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide, and they are among the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions both in the United States and around the world.
By rolling back deadlines for industry to transition to less harmful alternatives, this rule undermines EPA's current regulations under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act), which President Trump himself signed into law during his first term in 2020. The prior regulations are designed to phase out HFCs by approximately 85% by 2036. In the petition filed Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Attorney General Davenport and the coalition petition the Court to review EPA's new rule because it is contrary to law and EPA fails to justify its change in position.
"New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the country, and this proposed rollback is nonsensical, especially given that President Trump himself supported the transition to less harmful chemicals just six years ago," said Attorney General Davenport. "Our residents and businesses want a safer, stable environment, not drought, wildfires, worsening floods, and severe storms that threaten our lives and our properties. We are asking the Court to set aside EPA's dangerous new rule."
HFCs are used in commercial, residential, and mobile cooling systems. HFCs were discovered to pose a major threat to the climate, with greenhouse effects hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide over a hundred-year period. HFCs have been projected to contribute up to about 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit to global warming by 2100 if they are not controlled.
The AIM Act provides a framework through which the United States will phase out the production and consumption of HFCs by about 85% by 2036. That law limits production and imports of HFCs in the U.S. on an increasing basis over time - 60% today, declining to 30% in 2029, and 15% in 2036. The law requires EPA to help industry transition to a lower supply of these gases by setting limits for sectors with more readily available alternatives to protect costs and supply for those sectors that will take longer to transition.
For example, under the prior Technology Transitions rule, new remote condensing units -- typically used to refrigerate food by retailers like supermarkets, bakeries, and conveniences stores -- were limited to using refrigerants with lesser climate effects, depending on the system, starting January 1, 2026.
With EPA's rollback, new remote condensing units could use refrigerants with 10 times greater global warming potential until January 1, 2032.
If allowed to move forward, EPA's new rule will increase HFC emissions, accelerating the damage already threatening our planet and communities from climate change.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General Davenport and the coalition allege that EPA's final rule is arbitrary and capricious and violates the AIM Act.
Joining Attorney General Davenport in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Massachusetts, and Washington, who led the complaint, along with the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York.
Complaint (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-0721_State-and-Local-Government-Petition-for-Review.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-sues-trump-administration-over-rule-weakening-regulation-of-highly-potent-greenhouse-gas-linked-to-climate-change/
Attorney General Tong Secures Court Order Requiring Implementation of Soot Standard
HARTFORD, Connecticut, July 22 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Tong Secures Court Order Requiring Implementation of Soot Standard
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Press Releases
(Hartford, CT) -Attorney General William Tong this week announced a significant victory for clean air, securing a federal court order requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement necessary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to reduce deadly air pollutants. The decision in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
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HARTFORD, Connecticut, July 22 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Tong Secures Court Order Requiring Implementation of Soot Standard
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Press Releases
(Hartford, CT) -Attorney General William Tong this week announced a significant victory for clean air, securing a federal court order requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement necessary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to reduce deadly air pollutants. The decision in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Californiagranted the state's motion for summary judgment and denied EPA's efforts to block the challenge.
In April, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in suing the EPA over its failure to implement a lifesaving 2024 Clean Air Act rule strengthening NAAQS for fine particulate matter, commonly known as soot. Soot is a deadly air pollutant emitted from a variety of sources including combustion-engine vehicles, factories, and construction sites. Because of the particles' small size, once inhaled, they can penetrate the lower parts of lungs, move out of the respiratory system, and affect other organs. As a result, soot exposure can lead to myriad health problems, including shortened lifespans, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and cancer.
"There is nothing more vital to public health than the air we breathe, and we cannot take that for granted. We sued to force the EPA to do its job, and we're going to stay on them until it gets done," said Attorney General Tong.
Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to set NAAQS for several pollutants, including fine particulate matter, at a level that protects public health and welfare. When NAAQS are updated, the Clean Air Act gives EPA a specific deadline to designate areas of the country that are in violation of the updated standard as "nonattainment." This designation provides key support for State programs to reduce dangerous pollution levels to safer levels. EPA ignored this deadline, leading to the multistate suit, and the Court decision requires EPA to issue the designations.
Reductions in soot are associated with decreases in the risk of mortality and increases in life expectancy. In 2024, in response to advocacy from California and others, EPA strengthened the soot NAAQS based on overwhelming scientific evidence. According to its own estimates, EPA has reported that the first year alone of full attainment of the 2024 NAAQS will result in significant public health benefits, including avoiding 4,500 premature deaths, 2,000 emergency room visits, 5,700 new cases of asthma, 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms, 290,000 lost workdays, and 1,000 hospital admissions for Alzheimer's/Parkinson's diseases. The value of these and other health benefits would outweigh the estimated costs of implementation by $46 billion.
Assistant Attorney General Jill Lacedonia and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section, are assisting Attorney General Tong in this matter.
Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
Facebook: CT Attorney General
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
Consumer Inquiries:
860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov
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Original text here: https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-secures-court-order-requiring-implementation-of-soot-standard
Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Albert Melendez, Jr.
ALBANY, New York, July 22 (TNSrep) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Albert Melendez, Jr.
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New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report (https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/reports/osi-albert-melendez-jr-report.pdf) on the death of Albert Melendez, Jr., who died on July 16, 2024 following an encounter with members of the New York State Police (NYSP) in Sullivan County. After a thorough investigation,
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ALBANY, New York, July 22 (TNSrep) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Albert Melendez, Jr.
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New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report (https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/reports/osi-albert-melendez-jr-report.pdf) on the death of Albert Melendez, Jr., who died on July 16, 2024 following an encounter with members of the New York State Police (NYSP) in Sullivan County. After a thorough investigation,which included interviews with involved officers, review of footage from troopers' body-worn cameras (BWC) and radio communications, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the trooper's actions were justified under New York law.
In the early morning hours of July 16, NYSP troopers were pursuing Mr. Melendez, who was speeding at up to 90 MPH on Wurtsboro Mountain Road in the Village of Wurtsboro, Sullivan County. Mr. Melendez turned left onto Rock Hill Drive and the pursuit ended at the intersection of Rock Hill Drive and Emerald Place. A trooper got out of his patrol vehicle and stood directly in front of Mr. Melendez's vehicle, where he instructed Mr. Melendez to get out of his car. Mr. Melendez failed to comply, and instead drove his car directly into the trooper, striking him in the legs.
The trooper jumped to the passenger side of Mr. Melendez's vehicle and discharged his service weapon, striking Mr. Melendez. Mr. Melendez was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the encounter and was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.
Under New York's justification law, a police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another. In this case, Mr. Melendez drove his vehicle directly into a trooper, striking him. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the trooper's use of deadly physical force against Mr. Melendez was justified, and therefore OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.
The OSI recommends that NYSP should amend its training manual to limit the scope of crimes that can serve as the basis for a vehicle pursuit. While the manual has been updated in the time since Mr. Melendez's death, it still does not limit the number of crimes for which a vehicle pursuit is warranted.
Attorney General James has previously recommended that police departments reform the basis for police pursuits. In June 2025, Attorney General James issued a report on police pursuits, recommending that police departments ban high-speed police pursuits, with very narrow exceptions including when a violent felony has been or will be committed and when the driver's conduct poses an imminent threat of death.
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Original text here: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-office-special-investigation-releases-report-death-albert
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA, 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MURDER CASE
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 22 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA, 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MURDER CASE
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Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Mt. Vernon, Illinois man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to murder in a case prosecuted by the Attorney General's office.
Peter M. Harris, 67, pleaded guilty today in Jefferson County Circuit Court to one count of second-degree murder. Judge Jerry E. Crisel sentenced Harris to 20 years in prison.
"While nothing
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CHICAGO, Illinois, July 22 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA, 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MURDER CASE
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Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Mt. Vernon, Illinois man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to murder in a case prosecuted by the Attorney General's office.
Peter M. Harris, 67, pleaded guilty today in Jefferson County Circuit Court to one count of second-degree murder. Judge Jerry E. Crisel sentenced Harris to 20 years in prison.
"While nothingwill take away the pain experienced by the victim's family, it is my hope that today's sentence brings some degree of healing," Raoul said. "I am proud of the collaboration between my office's criminal division and local law enforcement in holding the defendant accountable, and I will continue to work to seek justice for victims of senseless violence."
In March 2025, the Mt. Vernon Police Department responded to Harris' home in the 600 block of South 15th Street in Mt. Vernon after receiving a call about an unconscious male who was not breathing. An investigation and autopsy later determined the male victim, a 56-year-old man also from Mt. Vernon, died from blunt force trauma to the head the night before police were called to Harris' home. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office also assisted with this case.
The Jefferson County State's Attorney's office referred the case to Raoul's office.
A second defendant in the case, Laura Beneway, 61, of Mt. Vernon, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 25, 2026. A third defendant, Eddie Bennett, 69, of Mt. Vernon, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in June 2025 in Jefferson County Circuit Court. His next court date is scheduled for August 25. The Jefferson County State's Attorney's office is prosecuting that case.
Assistant Attorneys General Suzanne Collins, Charles Ewell and Corbin Kakac handled both the Harris and Beneway cases for Raoul's Criminal Division.
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Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-obtains-guilty-plea-20-year-prison-sentence-in-jefferson-county-murder-case
AG Campbell Calls On Congress To Extend Haitian TPS As Lawmakers Return To Session
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 22 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Calls On Congress To Extend Haitian TPS As Lawmakers Return To Session
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BOSTON -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in urging Congress to take immediate action to protect Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders as lawmakers return to session.
In a letter to congressional leaders, AG Campbell and the coalition called on Congress to pass An Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 22 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Calls On Congress To Extend Haitian TPS As Lawmakers Return To Session
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BOSTON -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in urging Congress to take immediate action to protect Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders as lawmakers return to session.
In a letter to congressional leaders, AG Campbell and the coalition called on Congress to pass An Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Securityto designate Haiti for temporary protected status (H.R. 1689/S.4814), which would extend TPS protections for Haiti. The coalition also asked Congress to pass legislation that would provide judicial oversight of TPS decisions and establish a pathway to permanent residency for TPS holders.
"Forcing hundreds of thousands of people to return to Haiti - a country facing extraordinary violence, political instability, and a deep humanitarian crisis - would put lives at risk, separate families who have built their lives in America, and threaten communities and industries that rely on TPS holders," said AG Campbell. "Congress must act now to extend TPS for Haiti and ensure there is meaningful oversight of TPS decisions. TPS holders deserve stability, fairness, and due process, not cruelty and uncertainty driven by shifting political agendas."
The coalition's letter comes as Congress returns to session following the Supreme Court's decision in Mullin v. Doe, which terminated TPS for Haitians and Syrians while laying the groundwork for the revocation of TPS protections for other countries without any form of judicial oversight or review. The court's decision has created uncertainty for more than one million TPS holders nationwide and could have devastating humanitarian and economic impacts on these individuals and families who lawfully live and work in the United States.
In their letter, AG Campbell and the coalition argue that the termination of TPS for Haiti will have immediate repercussions, not only for Haitian TPS holders, but also on the economies of both the nation and individual states. These economies are dependent on Haitian workers. The 350,000 Haitian TPS holders across the country contribute $5.9 billion to the U.S. economy annually and pay approximately $1.6 billion in taxes.
In Massachusetts, there are approximately 45,000 individuals with Haitian TPS protections, thousands of whom work in the healthcare industry as medical technicians, orderlies, and caretakers for the elderly and disabled. The Massachusetts Senior Care Association alone has estimated that up to 2,000 of their workers may lose work authorization due to the Supreme Court decision.
The coalition also underscores the severe humanitarian conditions in Haiti, where TPS was first designated in 2010 following a devastating earthquake that killed more than 220,000 people and displaced more than 1.5 million people. Since then, additional crises - including a cholera outbreak, Hurricane Matthew, political instability, escalating gang violence, civil unrest, and poverty - have only exacerbated unsafe conditions in Haiti. The U.S. State Department currently maintains a "Level 4 Do Not Travel" warning for Haiti "due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited health care."
The coalition asks Congress to take immediate action to institute protections for Haitian TPS holders, including by passing An Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (H.R. 1689/S.4814), which has already passed in the House of Representatives. They also ask Congress to pass legislation allowing for judicial oversight and pathways to permanent legal residency for TPS holders. Judicial oversight would provide a necessary check on potential abuse of executive branch power by allowing for the impartial review of TPS decisions, including by allowing courts to determine whether the statutory requirements for the removal of a country's TPS designation were followed.
Joining AG Campbell in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Statements of Support:
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) : "Temporary Protected Status holders are our neighbors, friends, loved ones, and huge drivers of our local economies. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I am grateful to Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and the dedicated coalition of local officials, Haitian community leaders, and immigration advocates who have joined together in the fight to protect TPS. I have introduced Senate legislation to extend Haiti's TPS designation, and Congress must act now to fight the Trump administration's efforts to put our neighbors in harm's way."
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley: "Protecting the safety, dignity, and humanity of our Haitian neighbors is the right thing to do, and our country is strengthened by their contributions to our communities, the economy, our healthcare workforce, and more," said Rep. Pressley. "Since my discharge petition to extend TPS for Haitians successfully passed the House, we've been pressing hard to advance this essential legislation and protect our Haitian neighbors. The Senate must pass the extension of Haiti TPS without delay."
Governor Maura Healey: "Temporary Protected Status has allowed tens of thousands of Haitian families in Massachusetts to build their lives here, become our neighbors, and help keep Massachusetts moving every day. The conditions in Haiti remain extremely dangerous, and people should not be forced to return when it is not safe to do so. President Trump's decision to end these protections would tear families apart while creating serious challenges for Massachusetts employers, our healthcare system and our economy. I am grateful for Attorney General Campbell's leadership in standing up for Haitian families and challenging this decision in court. Congress must act to restore these protections and provide these families with the certainty and stability they deserve."
Governor's Councillor Tamisha Civil: "The fight for Haitian TPS is not about politics, it's about people. We all bleed the same blood, and every person deserves the chance to live in safety and dignity."
Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston City Council: "The decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians will have devastating consequences for families, employers, and communities across Boston and the nation. Haiti continues to face extraordinary political instability, violence, and humanitarian crises that make it unsafe for people to return. Congress must act now to extend TPS protections, ensure meaningful judicial oversight of these decisions, and create a pathway to permanent residency for those who have built their lives, raised their families, and strengthened our communities. Our neighbors deserve certainty, dignity, and the opportunity to continue contributing to the country they call home."
Former State Rep. Marie St. Fleur: "As a former Haitian American legislator, I know the difference between good policy and good politics. TPS for Haiti is both. Haitian TPS holders make up over 20% of Haitians in the U.S. healthcare workforce and fill critical roles across manufacturing, elder care, and other industries already facing labor shortages. This is sound policy both economically and morally. I urge Congress to pass H.R. 1689/S. 4814 and designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status."
Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition: "The Supreme Court's recent decision on Temporary Protective Status creates a pathway to cruel and unnecessary revocation of legal status for hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. Forcing our Haitian neighbors back to a country currently facing unprecedented humanitarian and security crises is not only cruel and immoral, but it also deeply harms our local economy and the fabric of our neighborhoods. We urge leaders to protect these vulnerable residents who have brought so much to the Commonwealth and our country."
Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Family Services Institute: "Passing S. 4814 now is both the moral and the right thing to do. The clock is ticking for more than 350,000 Haitian TPS holders and their families who have lived, worked, raised children, paid taxes, and strengthened communities across the United States. Congress must also address the deeper uncertainty built into the TPS system by creating a pathway to permanent residency. These families deserve stability, dignity, and the opportunity to continue contributing to the country they now call home."
Rosa Bentley, President of Massachusetts Senior Action Council: "Haiti remains in the grip of an active humanitarian crisis that makes safe return impossible for so many. Congress must pass H.R. 1689/S. 4814 to designate TPS for Haiti without delay. Here in Massachusetts, Haitian immigrants are a vital part of the direct care workforce that seniors and people with disabilities rely on for healthcare and long-term services and support. They are not simply filling a workforce shortage; they are trusted caregivers for our state's aging population and valued members of our communities. Failing to extend TPS for Haiti would force families to return to unsafe conditions and destabilize long-term care for seniors across Massachusetts. Congress must also establish judicial oversight of TPS decisions and a pathway to permanent residency, so families who care for ours are not left in permanent limbo."
Cari Medina, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU: "The end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is having a devastating impact on Massachusetts' already-fragile healthcare system. Thousands of TPS holders from Haiti work in healthcare; these valued and essential members of our communities are the aides in our nursing homes, the home caregivers for our parents, and the staff keeping our hospitals running. They are our friends, family, and coworkers, and the Trump administration's xenophobic attacks on TPS holders leave us all worse off. We need Congress to stop blocking common-sense immigration reforms like a pathway to permanent residency for TPS holders, and we need our elected officials to work to keep our communities together, not tear them apart."
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ag-campbell-calls-on-congress-to-extend-haitian-tps-as-lawmakers-return-to-session
