The Trump administration has stirred uncertainty and fear among Venezuelan immigrants living in the United States by revoking deportation protections for more than 300,000 individuals. This decision compounds the distress caused by a recent reversal of an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 600,000 Venezuelans, a move finalized in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s term.
Now, Venezuelans who were granted TPS in 2023 and anticipated staying until at least April face imminent deportation with only a 60-day notice. Another 250,000 Venezuelans granted TPS in 2021 retain protection until September, though their future remains precarious. TPS is a federal program offering residency and work authorization to individuals fleeing natural disasters or armed conflicts, albeit without a direct path to citizenship. Many Venezuelans sought TPS in the US to escape the severe political and economic crises under President Nicolás Maduro.
The cancellation of the Biden-era extension has been described by Venezuelan opposition website El Pitazo as devastating, likening it to an “atomic bomb” over the migrant community. Journalist Andrés Oppenheimer noted in the Miami Herald that Trump’s decision affects “some of his most ardent supporters in the US—both voters and TPS-holders,” as reported by The Guardian.
President Trump has been a longstanding critic of the TPS program, previously attempting to terminate protections for immigrants from El Salvador and Haiti during his first term. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the recent decision on NBC News’ Meet the Press, incorrectly referring to TPS as “TPP” and questioning its credibility.
Noem further echoed Trump’s claims during his campaign, alleging that the Venezuelan government had sent prisoners to the US, some of whom were purported members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. However, the Department of Homeland Security has identified only a small fraction of Venezuelan migrants with TPS protections having ties to the gang.
