The Trump administration has unveiled plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 256,000 Venezuelans, clearing the way for their deportation.
President Joe Biden had previously granted TPS to Venezuelans through two orders issued in 2021 and 2023, which provided work permits and shielded eligible migrants from removal.
TPS is typically reserved for nationals of countries affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other crises. However, Trump determined that Venezuela no longer qualifies under those conditions.
“After weighing public safety, national security, immigration factors, economic considerations, and foreign policy, it is clear that allowing Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the U.S. is not in America’s best interest,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said.
The administration argued that TPS for Venezuelans fuels irregular migration and undermines efforts to secure the southern border.
According to DHS, the TPS designation will officially end on September 10, giving recipients one week to begin departure arrangements, though termination will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
The decision also cancels 3,728 pending new TPS applications and 102,935 renewal requests.
Trump first sought to revoke TPS for Venezuelans in February, shortly after returning to the White House. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the move, claiming their presence was “contrary to the national interest.”
That decision was initially blocked by a California judge, who ruled it was based on “negative stereotypes” and unconstitutional. However, the Supreme Court later allowed the administration to move forward with deportations.
