The Trump administration is terminating an immigration program that currently protects hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. from deportation, paving the way for many of them to lose their legal status this spring, according to a government notice obtained by CBS News.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, over the weekend, rescinded one of the two Temporary Protected Status designations for Venezuelan nationals, a designation previously established by the U.S. government in recognition of the hazardous conditions that rendered safe return to their homeland unfeasible.
Established in 1990, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been utilized by both Republican and Democratic administrations to provide temporary immigration relief to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other critical situations that render repatriation unsafe. This policy offers protection from deportation and eligibility for work permits, although it does not confer permanent legal residency.
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Venezuelan nationals represents the most extensive initiative of its kind, providing protection from deportation for more than 600,000 migrants, as indicated by government statistics.
The recent decision by the Trump administration is expected to result in approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, who are currently protected under a 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, losing their work authorizations and protections against deportation two months following the official publication of Governor Noem's decision. Meanwhile, Venezuelans who are beneficiaries of an earlier TPS designation from 2021 will maintain their status until September, although there is a possibility that these protections may also be discontinued thereafter.
Individuals whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) expires and who do not possess an alternative immigration status will forfeit their legal right to work in the United States, rendering them susceptible to detention and deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has significantly intensified its enforcement actions nationwide under the Trump administration. Recently, President Trump announced that the Venezuelan government has consented to accept deported migrants from the U.S., after having previously declined American deportation flights for an extended period.
The initiative to reduce Temporary Protected Status (TPS), initially highlighted by The New York Times, reflects a wider strategy by the Trump administration aimed at tightening regulations surrounding illegal immigration and humanitarian programs that previously permitted certain migrants to enter or remain in the United States legally. Furthermore, officials within the administration have formulated proposals to rescind the legal status of individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who arrived in the U.S. through a sponsorship framework established by the Biden administration.
In 2021, the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan migrants, citing the severe economic and political crises exacerbated by the authoritarian governance of President Nicolas Maduro.
According to the United Nations, nearly 8 million individuals have departed from Venezuela, marking the most significant migration crisis in the Western Hemisphere's history. While a substantial number of Venezuelans have found refuge in various South American nations, particularly Colombia, a considerable contingent has also made their way to the southern border of the United States during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
In her decision, Noem recognized that certain conditions in Venezuela, as highlighted by the Biden administration, "persist." However, she concluded that extending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program would be "inconsistent with the national interest." She referenced the difficulties some U.S. communities have encountered in accommodating migrants in recent years, as well as the influx of individuals associated with the Venezuelan criminal organization, Tren de Aragua.
Noem also articulated that policies such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may inadvertently promote illegal immigration, arguing that the continual extensions of such policies could serve as "pull factors" that entice individuals to approach the U.S. border.
President Biden has significantly expanded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to an unprecedented number of individuals, providing refuge to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from nations such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Ukraine, and others facing crises. Additionally, his administration has reversed the previous Trump administration's efforts to eliminate TPS for various countries, including El Salvador.
Officials within the Trump administration, along with numerous Republican legislators, contend that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program has been subject to misuse and has been extended beyond its intended temporary framework. In one of his initial executive actions, President Trump directed his administration to ensure that TPS remains "limited in scope."
Nonetheless, a select number of Republican lawmakers have advocated for Mr. Trump to ensure the protection of Venezuelans from deportation. In a letter dated Friday, Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez urged the Trump administration to devise a "solution" for Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries, highlighting that most are law-abiding individuals "seeking liberty."