The decision to revoke protection from deportation for over 600,000 Venezuelans in the United States was announced by the administration on Wednesday. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem emphasized the importance of ensuring safety in communities and following the evaluation process for individuals in the country. Former president Joe Biden had previously extended temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months before Trump’s return to the White House.
Temporary protected status is granted to foreign citizens who cannot safely return home due to various conditions such as war or natural disasters. Trump’s attempts to end the program during his first term faced legal challenges. Despite statistics showing that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes compared to native-born Americans, Trump’s campaign focused on criminal incidents involving undocumented migrants.
Biden’s administration had expanded TPS to cover individuals from various countries, including El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Trump, on the first day of his second term, ordered a review of TPS designations through an executive order. Venezuelans constituted the largest group among the 1.2 million people eligible for or receiving TPS in the United States as of March 2024.
The extension of TPS for Venezuelans under Biden’s administration was attributed to the severe humanitarian crisis in the country caused by political and economic turmoil under the Maduro regime. Despite Maduro’s disputed election victory and the U.S. government’s rejection of it, he was sworn in for a third term as president. The U.S. administration has offered a reward for Maduro’s arrest on narco-trafficking charges.
Trump’s strong stance against Maduro and other leftists in Latin America has garnered support from some Venezuelan-Americans, despite his immigration policies.