WASHINGTON D.C. – Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans under Temporary Protection Status, otherwise known as TPS, could face deportation.
According to the New York Times, President Donald Trump has made the decision to revoke TPS.
The program aims to protect people leaving countries suffering under socioeconomic, political and/or environmental crisis.
Under Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, millions have fled the country as the government continues to unravel.
Trump recently addressed TPS recipients in South Florida.
“We want to see what we can do to get people back in their homeland and safe -- meeting with a lot of different people,” he said. “We are for the people of Venezuela. We are for the Venezuelan Americans. If you look, we have them all around Florida, right around the Doral area, they call it Little Venezuela.”
Close to 300,000 given status protections in 2023 will have 60 days after the termination notice is published.
More than 250,000 will have protection through September.
Immigration attorney Willy Allen says most Venezuelans have likely applied for asylum, which will protect them after TPS expires, but those who have lost their asylum case will be vulnerable.
“Every Venezuelan that has TPS is good until April of this year or September of this year, so no need to panic,” said Allen.
Trump’s Homeland Security secretary said TPS does not serve the national interest of the United States.
Under the Biden administration’s order, an 18 month extension would have been granted for TPS recipients.