WASHINGTON — The administration of President Donald Trump is putting an end to protections that have previously protected about 350,000 Venezuelans from being deported, which means they will have only two months before losing their right to work in the United States.
According to a directive from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, approximately 348,202 Venezuelans in the U.S. with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will see their protections lapse in April, impacting nearly half of the estimated 600,000 individuals who benefit from this status. The remaining Venezuelan protections are scheduled to conclude by the end of September.
The notice to terminate TPS will be officially released on Wednesday and will take effect in 60 days.
This move is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to reshape the immigration framework, fulfilling assertions made by officials to tighten immigration policies and advance one of the largest deportation campaigns witnessed in U.S. history.
The announcement has caused significant distress among Venezuelans residing in the United States.
“I feel like I’m in limbo — I will be undocumented starting in April,” expressed Henry Carmona, a 48-year-old Venezuelan who fled his homeland following threats against his life. “Returning to Venezuela is not an option for me. I could end up in jail. I’m terrified for my life.”
Carmona, who worked as a painter for a government agency in Venezuela but opposed President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, recounted being assaulted by paramilitary groups affiliated with Maduro, which ultimately pushed him to leave.
He arrived in the U.S. in 2022, reuniting with his wife and 17-year-old daughter in Miami, and they filed for TPS. Currently working in construction, he noted that he will seek alternative legal avenues to remain in the U.S.
Established by Congress in 1990, TPS was created to prevent deportation for individuals from countries experiencing humanitarian crises, allowing them to work legally for increments of up to 18 months. Roughly 1 million immigrants from 17 nations currently hold TPS, with a significant number from Venezuela.
In justifying the decision, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that conditions in Venezuela had improved sufficiently to warrant the cessation of TPS. Noem also indicated that the TPS designation had inadvertently enabled some individuals without a clear immigration path to settle in the U.S.
“The high number of Venezuelans has resulted in challenges for local communities,” the secretary’s announcement stated, referencing the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as part of the immigration concerns.
This gang originated in a notorious prison in Aragua more than a decade ago but has expanded its reach as millions of Venezuelans fled their country under Maduro’s rule and sought refuge elsewhere, particularly in the U.S.
During his campaign efforts, Trump frequently highlighted threats posed by such gangs, which ignited criticism about his portrayal of the immigrant community as criminal.
Since 2013, nearly 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country due to economic collapse under Maduro’s leadership. Despite many finding refuge in neighboring Latin American nations, there has been an uptick in the number seeking to migrate to the U.S. post-pandemic.
The ongoing crisis in Venezuela has dismantled the middle class and plunged millions into poverty.
Politically, the situation has reached a deadlock after Maduro took the oath for a third term last month, in spite of substantial evidence indicating that Edmundo González, a former diplomat aligned with the U.S.-backed opposition, had outpolled him significantly during the July elections.
On Monday, opposition figure Maria Corina Machado addressed reporters, indicating her team’s outreach to congressional members from Florida and beyond aimed at addressing the end of TPS and seeking a viable form of protection for Venezuelans who abide by the law.
“We want Venezuelans to return, but only to a free, safe, and prosperous Venezuela where they won’t face persecution, and we want that return to be voluntary,” she stated. “The small fraction of Venezuelans who engage in crime should not define the majority who seek to contribute positively to American society.”
In light of the TPS termination, immigration advocates held a gathering at a Doral restaurant known for its large Venezuelan demographic, expressing their disapproval of the decision. They maintain that conditions in Venezuela have not improved enough to justify forced returns.
“We will use every legal option available to us,” said Adelys Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan American Caucus.
While TPS grants individuals legal status in the U.S., it does not offer a permanent pathway to citizenship. Those under TPS are dependent on the government’s renewal process for continued residency. Critics argue that, over time, renewals can become almost automatic regardless of the situations affecting their home countries.
In the last days of the Biden administration, Noem’s predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, had extended Venezuelan TPS protections until October 2026. However, Noem has since repealed that extension.
Due to the absence of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, options for deportation are limited. Nonetheless, the Trump administration has prioritized the goal of facilitating deportations to Venezuela. Recently, special envoy Richard Grenell visited Venezuela and met with Maduro, resulting in the release of six American prisoners. Following this meeting, Trump announced on his social media platform that Venezuela would accept the return of its citizens, potentially easing the path for future deportations.
So far, the Venezuela government has not confirmed any agreements regarding such deportations.
During his first term, Trump attempted to rescind TPS for individuals from various countries, including El Salvador and Haiti, but legal challenges from advocacy groups halted these efforts.
The news about the termination of TPS was initially reported by a major news outlet.
Hope remains among supporters and advocates that the fight for TPS preservation will persist, with many ready to take definitive action to protect the rights of Venezuelan immigrants.
