Fort Myers mallet murder becomes flashpoint in Congress immigration fight

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A gruesome murder in Fort Myers became the center of a heated debate on the U.S. House floor on Thursday.

The House voted to extend Temporary Protected Status [TPS] for Haitian immigrants living in the U.S.

This comes after a Haitian immigrant in Fort Myers on TPS was accused of murdering a local mother of two with a mallet earlier this month.

Many Republicans in Congress argue the case shows the TPS program needs to be eliminated for Haitian immigrants. Members of the Haitian community say this debate comes down to protecting 350,000 people.

Earlier this week, Rolbert Joachin entered a not guilty plea to the brutal murder of Nifula Easmin.

Surveillance video of the attack spread across social media and made its way onto the floor of the U.S. House.

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Daytona Beach, used the killing as basis for voting against extending TPS for Haitian immigrants.

"When do we care about (Easmin)?" Fine said. "This whole thing is a scam, is what it is. It was created for people who were protected because there was an earthquake 16 years ago."

TPS is an immigration policy allowing people to seek asylum in the U.S. It was granted to Haitian Americans in 2010 following a devastating earthquake.

WINK News spoke with Tessa Petit, a Haitian immigrant and executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

"Haiti remains home," Petit said. "Even for me as a Haitian immigrant, Haiti remains home. However, the situation in Haiti makes it impossible for us to go back."

10 Republicans defied House leadership and voted with Democrats, including Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who represents parts of Collier County.

“As my record shows, I have supported Temporary Protected Status for Haitians during times of crisis as a form of humanitarian protection, while remaining committed to enforcing our immigration laws," Diaz-Balart said. "I am proud to once again support extending these protections for Haitians in the United States."

The Department of Homeland Security stripped Rolbert Joaquin of his TPS. The Trump administration will argue in front of the Supreme Court next month the entire program should be scrapped.

"We're talking about 350,000 people, plus 50,000, plus U.S.-born children who would have to return to a country where gang violence has only increased in the last few years," Petit said.

The bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate. The White House said President Trump will veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.