President Donald Trump's administration has decided to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 300,000 Venezuelans residing in the United States, as reported by the New York Times. This decision puts hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans at risk of deportation in the coming months. The TPS is a federal program that provides temporary refuge to individuals fleeing natural disasters or armed conflicts, allowing them to live and work legally in the U.S. for a specified duration. However, it does not offer a pathway to citizenship.
The removal of this status impacts those Venezuelans who received the protection in 2023, with their temporary status set to expire 60 days after the government publishes the termination notice. A separate group of over 250,000 Venezuelans enjoy protection until September and will not be immediately affected. However, the decision raises concerns that they, alongside others under TPS, might lose their status in the future, according to América TeVé.
This move is the first of its kind in Trump's second term and indicates a continuation of the stringent immigration policies that marked his first tenure. During his initial term, the Trump administration attempted to end TPS for migrants from nations like Sudan, El Salvador, and Haiti but faced legal challenges in federal courts.
In addition, the administration has declared that Venezuela will accept the return of all its nationals whom the United States decides to deport, thereby streamlining the repatriation process. This revocation of TPS stirs uncertainty and anxiety among the Venezuelan community in the U.S., many of whom escaped the political and economic turmoil in their homeland.
It is important to note that since last Wednesday, the U.S. had already rescinded the extension of TPS for Venezuelan migrants, a measure under President Joe Biden that had provided an additional 18 months of protection—until October 2026—against deportation, along with work permits.
Impact of TPS Termination on Venezuelans in the U.S.
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a federal program that offers temporary refuge to individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters or armed conflicts, allowing them to live and work legally in the United States for a specific period.
How does the termination of TPS affect Venezuelans?
The termination of TPS for Venezuelans puts more than 300,000 individuals at risk of deportation, as their temporary status will expire 60 days after the notice of termination is published by the government.
Will all Venezuelans under TPS lose their status immediately?
No, not all Venezuelans will lose their status immediately. While those who obtained TPS in 2023 face imminent expiration, another group of over 250,000 Venezuelans are protected until September.