The Director of Homeland Security, Christy Noem, has announced the end of deportation protections for numerous Venezuelans, marking a significant step in the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to revoke their temporary protected status (TPS) after facing several legal setbacks.
This change impacts around 250,000 individuals who were granted TPS following a declaration made in 2021.
A spokesperson for DHS stated, “The irregular movement from Venezuela and the attractive pull created by temporary protected status directly undermine our efforts to secure the southern borders and manage migration effectively.” They emphasized that considering public safety, national security, and various immigration policies, it isn’t in America’s best interest for Venezuelans to remain in the country.
DHS has the authority to offer TPS to countries facing natural disasters or civil unrest. Under former President Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, who headed DHS, designated Venezuela for TPS twice, pointing to the extensive political instability and food shortages that have forced millions to flee the nation.
This announcement comes shortly after an appeals court upheld a previous lower court’s ruling regarding TPS.
Generally, TPS can be revoked 60 days after a notice is published in the Federal Register. The administration must provide justification for believing the country is safe enough for deportations, but notifications related to this latest announcement were not immediately available online.
The Ninth Circuit ruled that Congress had established a termination process meant to ensure a “predictable, reliable, and temporary status system disconnected from electoral politics.” They also upheld a prior decision by a lower court judge that blocked the TPS change set to take effect in April, following comments that many deemed offensive regarding the Venezuelan population. Judge Edward Chen remarked that “attributing crimes to the entire TPS population from Venezuela is unfounded and reflects biased stereotypes.”
