The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have been residing in the United States since at least March 2021. This policy change will take effect 60 days after the official notice is published, leaving many Venezuelans without lawful work authorization and at risk of deportation unless they qualify for another legal status.
World Relief expressed deep concern over this decision, noting that it follows revocations of TPS for other groups from countries including Haiti, Afghanistan, Honduras, and Cameroon, as well as the termination of legal protections for over a million individuals under humanitarian parole. Myal Greene, president of World Relief, emphasized that many affected individuals were in the U.S. lawfully and now face potential deportation to countries experiencing severe humanitarian crises.
This latest TPS termination primarily affects Venezuelans who arrived during or before the Trump administration. Most of the estimated 260,000 individuals impacted were initially granted temporary legal protections through Deferred Enforced Departure by President Trump in January 2021, following recommendations from then-Senator Marco Rubio. These protections were implemented in response to the severe humanitarian crisis and oppressive governance under Nicolas Maduro.
Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, highlighted that the humanitarian situation in Venezuela remains dire, arguing that deporting these individuals is unjustifiable. He warned that without judicial intervention or congressional action to provide permanent legal status, those with temporary protections remain at risk.
World Relief advises Venezuelans and other TPS holders to seek guidance from authorized legal service providers to understand their options under U.S. law. The organization has also developed advocacy tools to support efforts for bipartisan legislative solutions, such as the reintroduced Dignity Act, aimed at securing a permanent resolution for Venezuelans affected by TPS termination.
