President Trump’s administration has announced the termination of protections for around 350,000 Venezuelans currently residing in the United States, putting them at risk of deportation. This change will take effect in just two months, leaving this vulnerable group with limited time to secure work authorization.
The directive issued by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem impacts a total of 348,202 Venezuelans under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is set to lapse in April. This number represents nearly half of the total 600,000 individuals benefiting from TPS. The remaining protections will expire by the end of September. The official notice for this termination is scheduled to be published soon, with a timeline leading to its enforcement in two months.
This decision marks another significant move by the Trump administration as part of a broader strategy aimed at reforming the immigration system and intensifying enforcement against undocumented residents. This initiative is framed within the administration’s commitment to pursue the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the Venezuelan community in the U.S., triggering feelings of uncertainty and fear of losing their legal status. One affected individual, Henry Carmona, a 48-year-old Venezuelan, expressed his concerns: “I feel like I’m in limbo — I will be undocumented beginning in April.” Carmona, who fled Venezuela after being threatened on multiple occasions, fears returning to a country where his safety is compromised due to his opposition to the current regime led by President Nicolás Maduro.
Carmona, who arrived in the U.S. in 2022, works in construction and has expressed his determination to find alternative means to remain in the country legally, having reunited with his family upon his arrival. TPS, introduced by Congress in 1990, was designed to protect individuals from nations experiencing significant civil unrest or natural disasters, allowing them the ability to work in the U.S. for defined periods.
The Department of Homeland Security’s rationale for ending TPS for Venezuelans rests on the assertion that conditions within Venezuela have improved sufficiently no longer to merit the continuation of protective status. Secretary Noem also emphasized that the TPS framework has been utilized by individuals lacking other immigration pathways to reside in the United States.
In her statement, Noem referenced the challenges facing local communities due to the increasing Venezuelan population, notably citing the activities of the Tren de Aragua gang, which has emerged from a notorious prison in Venezuela. This gang’s expansion parallels the exodus of millions seeking refuge from a deteriorating situation under Maduro’s administration, fueling the migration of Venezuelans to various parts of the Americas, including the U.S.
Since 2013, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the hardships of their homeland, with many seeking new lives in Latin America and the Caribbean, while growing numbers are now focusing their efforts on resettling in the U.S. The country is currently facing a humanitarian crisis that has decimated its middle class and led to widespread poverty.
Politically, the situation in Venezuela has become increasingly complex, particularly following Maduro’s controversial reelection last month amidst allegations of electoral manipulation. In response, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado revealed ongoing discussions with members of Congress regarding solutions for Venezuelans affected by the withdrawal of TPS, emphasizing the need for effective protections for those who abide by the law.
Machado articulated a vision for a future where Venezuelans could return home only under safe and democratic conditions. She insisted that the perception of Venezuelans as criminals is misleading, as most are law-abiding individuals who wish to contribute positively to society.
Although TPS provides a temporary legal status, it does not offer a permanent path to citizenship and leaves recipients vulnerable to eventual status renewal uncertainty. During the final days of the Biden administration, the previous Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, had extended protections for Venezuelans until 2026, a move that Noem has now revoked.
Given the lack of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, options for deportation remain limited. Nevertheless, the current administration has made it a priority to resume deportations to Venezuela. Recently, an envoy for special missions met with Maduro, resulting in the release of six American detainees, and Trump suggested that an agreement had been made for Venezuela to accept deported citizens, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
Previous administrations have faced legal challenges when attempting to terminate TPS for various nationalities, leading to ongoing debates regarding the rights and protections for immigrants in the U.S. The announcement to end TPS for Venezuelans was first highlighted by a major national newspaper.
