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Trump Administration Ends Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans in U.S.

Nearly 350,000 Venezuelans face potential deportation as TPS protections are set to expire in April, prompting widespread fear and uncertainty.

Henry Melinda inserts a Venezuelan flag into his hat as speakers take turns addressing the crowd as he and others join a global outcry in responded to a call from their country’s political opposition claim to victory over President Nicolás Maduro in last month’s disputed presidential election at Bendwood Park, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Houston.
Venezuelan community leaders speak to the media as they protest against the suspension of Temporary Protected Status in Doral, Fla, on Feb. 3, 2025.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at Florida International University's Wall of Wind, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Overview

  • The Trump administration has revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans granted under a 2023 designation, affecting approximately 348,000 individuals.
  • The Department of Homeland Security claims conditions in Venezuela have improved sufficiently to end the program, a position contested by advocates and community leaders.
  • The decision has created significant anxiety among Venezuelan communities in areas like South Florida, Houston, and the U.S.-Mexico border, where many fear deportation to a country still plagued by political repression and economic collapse.
  • Critics argue the move is politically motivated and point out that TPS recipients undergo rigorous vetting, with many also pursuing asylum cases that could take years to resolve.
  • Some Venezuelans with protections under a separate 2021 TPS designation remain unaffected for now, though their status is set to expire in September unless renewed.