Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration has reversed a decision to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States. This move puts these individuals at risk of deportation within the next two months.
The decision to revoke the TPS extension, which was initially granted by Noem's predecessor Alejandro Mayorkas during the Biden administration, is effective immediately. Noem cited concerns about allowing individuals to stay in the country and potentially violate immigration laws for an additional 18 months.
Experts and advocates have expressed worry over the immediate impact of this decision, noting that affected individuals now face uncertainty and fear. One such individual, Caren Añez, a Venezuelan single mother who received TPS in 2024, shared her concerns about the potential consequences of losing this protection.
Venezuela has experienced a significant exodus of more than 7.7 million people since 2013, driven by economic instability and political turmoil under President Nicolas Maduro. Many Venezuelans have sought refuge in the U.S., with the desire for better living conditions and opposition to Maduro's regime prompting continued emigration.
Under the Biden administration's previous extension, protections for Venezuelans were set to last until October 2026. However, the recent reversal means that Venezuelans now face the risk of losing their ability to work in the U.S. and potential deportation.
The National TPS Alliance has indicated its readiness to challenge this decision in court, emphasizing the importance of TPS in preventing deportations to countries facing crises. TPS, established in 1990, provides temporary protection to immigrants from countries affected by natural disasters or civil strife, allowing them to work in the U.S. for limited periods.
In addition to Venezuelans, the Biden administration had also extended TPS protections to individuals from El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan. Noem's recent decision specifically impacts Venezuelans, raising questions about the fate of other TPS beneficiaries.
This policy shift has sparked concerns among immigrant communities and advocacy groups, highlighting the ongoing debate over the renewal and termination of TPS designations. The fate of Venezuelans and other TPS recipients now hangs in the balance as they await further decisions from the Department of Homeland Security.
