RE: Mission Talk Pastors and Faith Leaders throughout the United States Call on Senator Rick Scott to Vote Yes on S. 4814 to Extend TPS for Haitians
Dear Senator Scott,
We are pastors and faith leaders serving congregations throughout the country. Many of our churches include Haitian families who worship, work, raise children, care for our elderly, and serve alongside us. We are writing today to ask you, as one of Florida's two U.S. Senators, to cosponsor and vote for S. 4814.
It is no exaggeration to say that the world understands Haiti is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis that words can do little to explain fully. The crisis goes beyond Port-au-Prince and is affecting every aspect of life for families living in Haiti. Gang violence, sexual and gender-based violence, the displacement of nearly 1.5 million people, food insecurity, lack of medical care, and economic instability are part of daily life. There is no safety for millions of women, men, and children.
The risk for Haitians who are deported from the United States is even greater because they will become human targets for kidnappings and more. As faith leaders, we cannot stay silent on the situation. We are called to action because of the scale of human suffering and the deep knowledge that every life is worth protecting. TPS can help us accomplish that mission.
TPS was created exactly for situations like this, to protect families who cannot safely return to their countries of origin. For sixteen years, Haitians had a legal immigration status that seldom led to a pathway to residency and waited with hope for legislative solutions. Haitian TPS holders did everything they were supposed to: avoiding crimes and unauthorized travel, completing yearly check-ins, and more. They are among the most vetted members of our communities. The reality is that Haiti is in no condition to accept deported mothers, fathers, and children. Gangs in Port-au-Prince have shot at aircraft operated by American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines, leading to a period of suspension for flights to Haiti. Sending them back to these conditions puts members of the community at grave risk of violence, kidnapping, and even death.
Our faith calls us to protect, understand, and love one another, regardless of where we were born. Jesus himself was once a child seeking asylum, running from life-threatening conditions. As pastors and faith leaders, we are called by God to care for our Haitian brothers and sisters. Scripture calls us to welcome the stranger, bear each other’s burdens, defend the vulnerable and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Cosponsoring S. 4814, it would be understood as a decision made from a place of wisdom and mercy.
We believe mercy must be centered in our policies, especially as we try to navigate the aftershocks of policies made without it. The reality for many pastors is this: our churches are emptier because people are terrified of being taken. Leaders in our churches cannot continue their duties because of the same fear. As a U.S. Senator, you have the power to change this reality and ensure that our churches become places of praise and worship again.
Meanwhile, churches in Haiti face an even more terrifying reality. We are horrified by reports of worshippers encountering violence and death as they gather to practice their faith. As recently as August 2026, gang members massacred 47 churchgoers, including five children. The gangs took twenty hostages, and gang leaders warned that each one would be killed if law enforcement intervened. This is not an isolated event; violence does not rest in Haiti.
Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical organization that aids Christians experiencing persecution, notes:
Numerous religious institutions have also been attacked and forced to close. After storming the buildings, the gangs set fire to them or turn them into their bases of operations. Many Catholic schools, some with more than a century of history, have suffered the same fate. No one knows if they will ever be recovered, or in what state they will be found if they are.
We are in deep mourning for the current situation in Haiti, and we are equally concerned about the pain, confusion, and sorrow facing TPS holders in the United States who fear being forced to return to these dangerous conditions. Haitian TPS holders are a critical part of our communities and the economic fabric of our nation. Haitians in Florida care for our elderly loved ones as home care aides, serve as trusted nurses in hospitals, help keep our airports running smoothly, and more. Throughout the U.S., Haitians generate over $4 billion annually for the economy. In Florida alone, their economic contributions equal $2.6 billion.
But their value to our communities goes far beyond economic contributions. They are our worship leaders, ushers, intercessors, and parishioners. Most importantly, they are our fellow siblings in Christ.
We approach you with a hopeful and loving heart, believing that hope and love can overcome despair. In Florida, we need love and hope more than ever. We urge you to cosponsor S. 4814 and extend TPS for Haitian families across this nation.
Respectfully,
Mission Talk Pastors and Faith Leaders
Rev. Esteban Rodríguez Bishop and Pastor, Iglesia Pan de Vida, Kissimmee
Bishop Dr. Saturnino Gonzalez Senior Pastor Emeritus, El Calvario Church; Former District Superintendent, Florida Multicultural District of the Assemblies of God
Rev. Ricardo Cortijo Lead Pastor, La Viña Church, DeLand
Rev. Juan Carlos Calderón
Asst. Presbyter, Assemblies of God; Senior Pastor, UNC Church (Un Nuevo Comienzo), Palm Beach County
Tomas Miranda Senior Pastor, Iglesia Oasis, Orlando
Rev. Omar Johnson Founder and Pastor, Freedom House, Winter Springs
Rev. Virgilio Rios Pastor, Agape Church, Orange City
Antonio Santana Assoc. Pastor, Iglesia Siquem, Orange City
Agustin Quiles
President, Mission Talk
Kevin Vazquez
Family Pastor, New Life Church, Sanford
Christian DeJesus Missions Pastor, Calvario Church, Orlando
Tony Hernandez Pastor, Vida Nueva Church, Sanford
Esther Omeben Pastor, Ignite Life Center, Gainesville
Fersan Canelas Pastor, Fortaleza, Tampa
Blanca Canelas Pastor, Fortaleza, Tampa
Dr. Laura Olivo Senior Pastor, Gracia Community Church, Winter Springs
Sonia Rodriguez
Pastor, Kissimmee
Ruben Rodriguez
Lead Pastor, Leesburg
Ivelise De Jesus
Lead Pastor, Leesburg
Harelyn Rodriguez Program Director, Iglesia Pan de Vida, Kissimmee
Rafael Castro Usher, Reaching Hands Christian Center, DeBary
Caleb Medina Church Leader, Vida Nueva, Deltona
Juan Mussab Church Leader, Viva Church, Orlando
Kevin Gonzalez Church Leader, Centro Cristiano Shalom, Davenport
Bert Capote Church Leader, Iglesia Comunidad de Fe, Tampa
Jose Cuadrado Pastor, Reaching Hands Christian Center
Pastor William Rodriguez
Nicole Gomez Pastor, Ignite Life Center, Gainesville
