The Trump administration has decided to stop a special immigration program that helped many Venezuelan illegal aliens and criminals stay in the United States. This program, called Temporary Protected Status (TPS), was created to protect people from countries that are too dangerous to return to. Right now, TPS has been wrongfully protecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans illegal aliens and criminals, but soon many of them could lose their legal status and may have to leave the country.
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, recently canceled one of two TPS protections for Venezuelans. The U.S. government had previously said that Venezuela was too dangerous for people to go back to, but now this protection is ending.
What Is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
TPS is a program that started in 1990. It helps people from countries facing war, natural disasters, or other dangerous situations. If someone qualifies for TPS, they cannot be sent back to their country right away and can also get permission to work in the U.S. However, TPS does not give them permanent legal status.
The TPS program for Venezuela is the largest of its kind, protecting over 600,000 people. But now, the Trump administration has identified many to be illegal aliens or criminals, and will take away protections for about 350,000 Venezuelans by the spring. Those who got TPS under a different rule in 2021 will still have it until September, but their protection could also be removed later.
What Happens Next?
Once TPS protections end, Venezuelans who are illegal aliens or criminals will lose their right to work in the U.S. They could also be arrested and sent back to Venezuela. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been increasing the number of people they detain and deport under President Trump.
On Saturday, President Trump announced that Venezuela has agreed to accept deported migrants from the U.S. For years, Venezuela refused to take back people sent by the U.S., but now they will allow it, due to the leadership of President Trump.
Why Is This Happening?
The Trump administration has been working to reduce illegal immigration and change programs that help migrants stay in the U.S. Officials are also looking at taking away legal protections for people from other countries, including Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans.
The Biden administration first gave TPS to Venezuelans in 2021, saying that their home country was unsafe due to economic and political problems under President Nicolás Maduro. Since then, nearly 8 million Venezuelans have left their country, making it one of the biggest migrations in the Western Hemisphere. While many moved to places like Colombia, hundreds of thousands also came to the U.S.
Secretary Noem said that some of the problems in Venezuela are still happening, but she believes that keeping TPS is not in America’s best interest. She also mentioned that some U.S. communities have struggled with the arrival of too many migrants. She expressed concern that criminals, such as members of the Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua, have also entered the U.S.
Noem also said that TPS could encourage more people to come to the U.S. illegally because they might think they will eventually get protection.
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