The U.S. government has made a dramatic change to its immigration policy, ending deportation protections for over 348,000 Venezuelans under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Monday, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to immigration.
This move, part of former President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration policies, could result in thousands losing their work permits and facing deportation as early as April. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the decision by pointing to “notable improvements” in Venezuela’s economy, public health, and crime rates. However, for many Venezuelan families in the U.S., the announcement has sparked fear and uncertainty.
Ana Maria Pirela, a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant with TPS, shared her worries with Reuters. “I’m two months pregnant, and my husband just lost his job,” she said. “We don’t want to go back to Venezuela. I don’t know what will happen to us.”
Venezuelan activist Beatriz Olavarriat warned of the potential consequences. “Some people could face imprisonment or even death if they return,” she told NBC6 South Florida. “Those who have criticized the Venezuelan government could be arrested immediately.”
This decision reverses policies from the Biden administration, which expanded TPS to over a million people from 17 countries, including Venezuelans escaping political and economic instability. While the U.S. has historically faced challenges in deporting Venezuelans due to strained relations, Trump’s revised policies have made this change possible.
Approximately 300,000 Venezuelans still hold valid TPS visas until September, but their future remains unclear. Tatiana Vazques, a Venezuelan immigrant in Atlanta, described the growing fear in her community. “A friend and her spouse were detained by ICE just yesterday,” she said. “We’re all living in fear of what might happen next.”
The Trump administration is also considering ending another program that allows around 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans with U.S. sponsors to live and work legally in the country. Sources indicate this decision could be announced in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s economic crisis continues. Despite President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to curb inflation, the monthly minimum wage remains just $3. Maduro, who began his third term amid election disputes and U.S. drug trafficking charges, faces ongoing opposition both at home and abroad.
Since the political and economic crisis under Maduro’s leadership worsened, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Venezuelan opposition has urged the U.S. to maintain TPS, highlighting the severe conditions migrants would face if forced to return.
