DHS Terminates the 2023 Designation of Venezuela for TPS

On February 3, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security released the following statement regarding Trump’s decision to terminate the 2023 designation of Venezuela for TPS: After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS and related benefits associated with the 2023 designation will no longer be in effect starting 60 days after publication of the Federal Register notice. Find more information about TPS at uscis.gov/tps. What does this mean?

Venezuela TPS Ends for 350,000

Summary

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will not extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Venezuelans who were granted TPS in 2023. This could mean mass deportations by spring, according to a pre-published Federal Register notice released yesterday. This news has significant implications for the Venezuelan community in the U.S.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem justified the revocation of one of Venezuela’s two TPS designations, saying it is “not in the national interest of the United States.” She cited gang activity and local resource constraints as major factors.

Venezuelan TPS holders will keep their work permits and deportation protections until April 2025 and then may be removed from the U.S.

Key Facts

  • Affected Individuals: 348,202 Venezuelans with TPS set to expire in April.
  • Additional Expirations: The remaining TPS for Venezuelans—around 600,000 total—will expire by September.
  • Effective Date: The notice will be published Wednesday and take effect in 60 days.

For more details, visit the DHS TPS information page.

Background: Why TPS Was Granted to Venezuelans

TPS was created by Congress in 1990 to protect individuals from deportation if their home country is experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters or other extraordinary conditions.

  • Venezuela’s Crisis: Since 2013, Venezuela has been in economic collapse, political turmoil and human rights abuses under the authoritarian regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
  • Mass Exodus: 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, many to the U.S.
  • Previous Extensions: The Biden administration extended TPS for Venezuelans until October 2026, but Noem has removed that extension.

What it means for affected Venezuelans.

Many Venezuelans in the U.S. are in limbo and fear. Without TPS, they risk deportation and loss of work authorization.

A thorough analysis of the potential impacts on the Venezuelan community is crucial.

Personal Story: Henry Carmona

  • Who is he? 48-year-old Venezuelan who fled after receiving death threats for not supporting the Maduro government.
  • Current Situation: Lives in Miami with his wife and daughter, works in construction, and faces possible deportation.
  • Quote: “I cannot go back to Venezuela. I can go to jail. I fear for my life.”

Why DHS ended TPS

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says conditions in Venezuela have improved enough to no longer justify TPS.

  • Reasons given by DHS:– TPS is a backdoor for people without legal immigration paths.
  • Strain on U.S. local communities because of the large influx of Venezuelans.
  • Venezuelan gang activity, specifically Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization that emerged in Venezuelan prisons and has spread internationally.

The decision is also influenced by broader politics and immigration policies.

Opposition and Criticism

Many Venezuelan community leaders, immigration advocates and politicians are against the decision, saying conditions in Venezuela are still dangerous.

Statements from Advocates

  • Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Opposition Leader: Calling for congressional action to secure new protections for law-abiding Venezuelans.
  • Adelys Ferro, Executive Director of the Venezuelan American Caucus: Will fight the decision through legal means.

Arguments against the decision

  • Venezuela is still unsafe: Despite claims of improvement, many experts and advocacy groups say Venezuela is still experiencing economic and political turmoil.
  • Uncertainty of deportations: The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Venezuela, so deportation logistics are unclear.
  • Previous TPS terminations: Trump tried to end TPS for countries like El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras during his first term but lawsuits blocked immediate implementation.

The political and diplomatic angle

  • Trump’s immigration stance: This fits with Trump’s long-standing goal to restrict immigration and conduct mass deportations.
  • Recent diplomatic developments: Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell met with Maduro and six American prisoners were released and possibly an agreement for Venezuela to accept deported nationals.
  • Venezuelan Government Response: No public statement yet on accepting deportees from the U.S. For more expert insights, refer to the detailed analysis provided by CBS News.

What’s Next?

  • Legal Challenges: Immigration advocacy groups will file lawsuits to block or delay the termination of TPS.
  • Congressional Action: Lawmakers from Florida and other states are exploring legislative solutions.
  • Impact on the Venezuelan Community: Many TPS holders will seek alternative legal pathways to stay in the U.S. but options are limited.

Trump Expands Immigration Crackdown

President Donald Trump has greatly increased immigration enforcement. As part of that, he signed a memo authorizing 30,000 new migrant detention beds at Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. military base in Cuba.

During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Secretary Noem wouldn’t answer directly if migrant women, children and families without legal status would be held at Guantanamo. Instead she emphasized the administration’s priority:“The priority of this president is to go after criminal aliens that are making our streets more dangerous.” – Kristi Noem

For more information, visit the official DHS site.

Limited Legal Immigration Pathways

In addition to ending TPS for Venezuelans, the Trump administration has:

  • Revoked humanitarian parole for asylum seekers.
  • Ended work permit protections for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who previously qualified under a U.S. sponsorship program.
  • Limited legal migration options, reversing Biden-era policies that expanded protections.

Last week Noem formally ended an 18-month TPS extension for Venezuelans that had been granted under the Biden administration and would have protected them until October 2026.


Legal Challenges

DHS’s decision will likely face lawsuits, as did 2018 when Trump tried to end TPS for Haiti, El Salvador, Sudan and Nicaragua. Those terminations were blocked by the courts.

Under U.S. immigration law, TPS designations are granted due to unsafe conditions in a country—war, natural disasters or severe political instability. They are not based on whether a migrant’s stay benefits U.S. interests.

Legal experts say Noem’s justification for ending Venezuelan TPS on national interest grounds may set a new precedent for future TPS terminations.

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TPS facts:

  • Temporary and generally granted for 18 months at a time.
  • Allows recipients to live and work in the U.S. while being protected from deportation.
  • Is not a direct path to citizenship, though TPS holders can apply for asylum if eligible.

Julia Gelatt, Associate Director at the Migration Policy Institute, said:

“This raises questions for many TPS holders about whether their designations are truly safe under this administration, especially as the focus shifts from country conditions to national security concerns.”


TPS for Venezuelans: A Divided History

There are currently two groups of Venezuelans under TPS:

  1. 2021 TPS Recipients – Approximately 250,000 Venezuelans granted TPS under the Biden administration. TPS valid until September 10, 2025.
  2. 2023 TPS Recipients – Approximately 350,000 Venezuelans who will be deported after DHS’s decision.Noem has until July 12, 2025, to decide whether to extend or end the 2021 group’s protections.

Trump Supported TPS for Venezuelans

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While Trump is tough on immigration, his administration previously protected Venezuelans. On his last day in office in 2021, Trump’s administration issued an 18-month Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) for Venezuelans citing the instability under President Nicolás Maduro.

The administration’s memo at the time said:

“Through force and fraud, the Maduro regime is responsible for the worst humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere in recent memory.”

After Trump’s DED, the Biden administration expanded protections by granting TPS to Venezuelans in 2021.


Noem’s TPS Crackdown

Noem has been critical of TPS under the Biden administration and has vowed to review TPS designations for all 17 countries currently under the program.

Countries with active TPS designations are:

  • Afghanistan
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Cameroon
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Lebanon
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

Noem calls the program “abused and manipulated”, saying it allows undocumented migrants to stay in the U.S. indefinitely. She also links Venezuelan migration to the Tren de Aragua (TDA), a Venezuelan criminal gang.

“The (TPS) program has been abused, and it doesn’t have integrity right now. And folks from Venezuela that have come into this country are members of TDA.” – Kristi Noem

All TPS applicants undergo thorough security screenings and background checks before being approved.

“This administration is evaluating all of our immigration programs to ensure they benefit the United States, rather than criminals.” – Kristi Noem


What’s Next?

With TPS ending for 350,000 Venezuelans by April 2025, advocacy groups and legal experts expect a tough battle in court. Many Venezuelans currently under TPS may file asylum applications as a last resort to stay in the U.S.

For the 250,000 Venezuelans whose TPS is valid until September 2025, all eyes are on Noem’s decision in July 2025 when she will decide their fate.

As legal battles and policy debates unfold, thousands of Venezuelan families remain in limbo about their future in the United States.


Beyond Betrayal: Venezuelans in Florida React to Trump’s Immigration Policy Change

A Community Feels Betrayed

Venezuelan migrants in South Florida are speaking out against a Trump administration decision that revokes a crucial immigration protection. Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has protected hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from deportation, is now being rescinded, leaving many feeling abandoned and vulnerable.

Key Points:

  • TPS for more than 300,000 Venezuelans expires in April.
  • Another 250,000 individuals, previously assured protection until September, are at risk.
  • Trump administration contradicts previous assurances to the Venezuelan community.

A Surprise and Drastic Change

This is a drastic reversal of U.S. policy, which had extended TPS to over half a million Venezuelans. On NBC’s Meet the Press, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem defended the decision, saying Venezuela “emptied out their prisons and mental health facilities” and sent people to the U.S.

But Venezuelan Americans dispute this, saying the vast majority of their community are hardworking individuals seeking safety and stability in the U.S.

Venezuelan Migration to the U.S.: A Quick Overview

Venezuelans started migrating to the U.S. in large numbers in the 1980s, with a big increase in recent decades due to:

  • Hugo Chávez’s rule (1999–2013) – Increased authoritarianism and economic collapse.* Nicolás Maduro’s presidency (2013–present) – Human rights abuses, hyperinflation and poverty.

Today, nearly 400,000 Venezuelans live in Florida, many in Doral, nicknamed “Doralzuela” because of its large Venezuelan population.

The Human Impact of Ending TPS

The decision to end TPS has sent fear and uncertainty through the Venezuelan community. TPS recipients have built lives in the U.S., obtained work permits, Social Security numbers and even homeownership.

Venezuelan Community Concerns:

  • Loss of legal status means job loss and financial instability.
  • Risk of deportation to a country in crisis.
  • Psychological distress among families who fear separation.

Adelys Ferro, director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, said, “We are human beings who work here, who are small business owners. TPS was the way for us to build our future.”

Political Fallout: ‘Beyond Betrayed’

In the 2024 Presidential Election, Donald Trump won in Miami-Dade County, mostly due to Hispanic vote, including naturalized Venezuelan Americans. Many feel betrayed now.

Community Reaction:

  • “Beyond betrayed. They used us,” Ferro said.
  • Venezuelans recall Republican officials telling them only undocumented immigrants would be affected by policy changes.
  • Now, many feel misled and abandoned by those they once supported.

Fear in Doral

Venezuelan TPS recipients in Doral, Florida are getting more and more afraid. Many won’t speak publicly, fearing they will be targeted by immigration authorities.

Carlos Pereira, a Venezuelan American in Doral, describes the mood in his community:

  • “People are frustrated and scared.”
  • “They are taking cover, hiding.”
  • “For them, ending TPS would be a tragedy.”

A Bigger Immigration Issue

Ending TPS for Venezuelans raises questions for other nationalities too. TPS protects individuals from over a dozen countries, including:

  • Haiti
  • Nicaragua
  • El Salvador

These communities now worry they might be next in line for deportation under Trump’s immigration policies.

Double Standard? Negotiations with Maduro

To make matters worse, while Trump is deporting Venezuelans, his administration is negotiating with Nicolás Maduro to release American hostages. This double standard has left many Venezuelan Americans confused and angry.

Carlos Pereira asks why Republican lawmakers, who have always spoken out against Maduro’s regime, are silent now:

  • “They always criticized Maduro. Now that ‘Papi Trump’ is negotiating with him, they say nothing?”

Republican Congressman Weighs In

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who represents Doral, has expressed concern about Trump’s decision. While he supports a case-by-case asylum process, he warns the administration to be “very careful” when making deals with Maduro’s government.

What’s Next?

The Venezuelan community is organizing protests and seeking legal options to challenge the policy change. Activists are urging lawmakers to reconsider, highlighting economic contributions and humanitarian needs of Venezuelans in the U.S.

Possible Solutions:

  • Pressure Congress to pass bipartisan immigration legislation.
  • Advocacy groups helping TPS recipients with legal services.
  • Public awareness campaigns to show the impact on Venezuelan families.

Conclusion

The end of TPS for Venezuelans is a big deal with big consequences. While the Trump administration says conditions in Venezuela are no longer special enough to warrant TPS, many Venezuelan immigrants and advocacy groups disagree, pointing out the continued instability and danger in their home country. With only 60 days left before the protections expire, thousands are in limbo.

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