U.S. Revokes Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans, Raising Deportation Concerns

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Wednesday that the current administration has revoked a previous decision granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, putting many at risk of deportation within the next two months.

Noem issued an official notice reversing an earlier action by her predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, who had extended TPS for Venezuelans during the final days of the previous administration. The revocation takes immediate effect and aligns with broader efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies.

"Before leaving office, Mayorkas signed an order extending TPS for 18 months, allowing individuals to remain despite violating immigration laws," Noem stated in an interview. "We have put an end to that policy."

The decision has sparked uncertainty among those affected. Caren Añez, a 41-year-old single mother who obtained TPS in 2024 after arriving in the U.S. on a tourist visa, expressed deep concern. "Even though I came here legally, I am now afraid for my future," she said. Añez, formerly an independent journalist in Venezuela, cited safety concerns as the reason for leaving her home country. Now working as an office manager in Texas, she fears returning. "Going back is not an option because my life is at risk," she added.

Since 2013, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country due to economic decline and political instability. While many initially settled in Latin America and the Caribbean, an increasing number have sought refuge in the United States. Dissatisfaction with Venezuela’s leadership and ongoing hardships continue to drive migration.

Under the previous administration's extension, TPS for Venezuelans was set to remain in effect until October 2026. However, with this reversal, protections now fall under two separate designations—one expiring in April and the other in September. Without further action, individuals losing their status will no longer be authorized to work in the U.S. and may face deportation.

Noem has until Saturday to decide on those whose status expires in April and until July 12 for the group affected in September. If no action is taken, existing regulations would automatically extend protections for six months. Deportation enforcement remains complicated, as the U.S. lacks formal diplomatic relations with Venezuela, limiting the ability to return individuals.

The TPS program, established in 1990, was designed to prevent deportation to countries experiencing crises such as natural disasters or armed conflicts. It grants temporary legal status and work authorization, typically for periods of up to 18 months at a time. Currently, about one million individuals from 17 countries benefit from TPS, including Venezuelans, Haitians, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Afghans, Sudanese, Ukrainians, and Lebanese nationals. Venezuelans are among the largest groups under this program.

Despite offering temporary relief, TPS does not provide a direct path to citizenship, requiring periodic renewals. Critics argue that these extensions become routine, regardless of changing conditions in recipients' home countries.

In addition to Venezuelans, the previous administration had also extended protections for over 230,000 Salvadorans, 103,000 Ukrainians, and 1,900 Sudanese. However, Noem’s announcement specifically addressed Venezuelans, leaving the status of other groups uncertain.

Advocacy organizations have voiced opposition to the decision, with some indicating plans to challenge it in court.