U.S. Policy on Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans Remains Unchanged
The Trump administration has decided not to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, despite recent political upheavals in Venezuela. The decision follows the capture of the Venezuelan president by U.S. forces.
TPS offers nationals from countries facing extreme conditions like war or famine temporary relief from deportation, along with work authorization in the United States. This status was initially granted to Venezuelans in 2021 during the Biden administration and was extended just before Trump took office. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently terminated this status for Venezuela, citing that the nation no longer meets the criteria for such protection.
Tricia Mclaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, affirmed to Fox News that no changes to the current stance are anticipated, stating, “I’m not seeing any changes to our posture on this. I think the great news for those who are here from Venezuela on Temporary Protected Status is that they can now go home with hope for their country.”
Nevertheless, the decision has drawn criticism from some quarters. Democratic Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has voiced concerns over the instability in Venezuela following the removal of Nicolas Maduro, arguing it still poses significant risks for returning nationals. She has urged the Trump administration to reconsider and reinstate TPS protections.
In related developments, a federal court previously ruled against the Trump administration’s effort to roll back TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, deeming it unlawful. A separate legal challenge concerning the termination of TPS for Venezuela and Haiti is currently stalled, as the Supreme Court has frozen a lower court ruling.
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