Trump stops protected immigration status for Venezuelan migrants
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The Department of Homeland Security announced a significant policy reversal on Wednesday, as Secretary Kristi Noem terminated a previously approved Temporary Protected Status extension for Venezuelan nationals.
TPS designation prevents deportation of foreign nationals when their home countries face extraordinary circumstances like armed conflicts or natural disasters. Recipients of TPS can legally work in the United States and receive travel authorization.
The Biden administration had granted TPS to migrants from several countries including Venezuela, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Honduras during its term. In the final days of his presidency, former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued an 18-month extension for multiple countries including Venezuela, which would have provided deportation protections until October 2026.
BREAKING: The Department of Homeland Security is canceling the temporary protected status of Venezuelans, which were previously guaranteed until 2026 by Biden. This affects upwards of 600,000 Venezuelans who will be sent back home or deported elsewhere en masse. pic.twitter.com/3JbVOgdNkS
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 29, 2025
Mayorkas justified the extension by citing various challenges in Venezuela, including food shortages, limited access to essential services, healthcare issues, political oppression, and criminal activities.
However, Noem overturned Mayorkas’ decision for Venezuela on Tuesday. Current protections are set to end in April and September.
According to Noem, the Department must evaluate protection extensions at specific intervals. She claimed Mayorkas’ last-minute decision came too soon after the initial designation.
The policy shift could affect more than 600,000 Venezuelan nationals currently in the United States, according to The New York Times. A DHS official suggested to the Times that Mayorkas’ extension appeared designed to constrain the incoming Trump administration’s options.
Noem faces a Saturday deadline to decide on issuing her own TPS extension. Without action, Venezuelan TPS will automatically extend for six months.
🚨Kristi Noem revoked the extension of temporary protected status for Venezuelan illegals.
Noem: "The people of this country want these dirtbags out." 🔥🎯
Alejandro Mayorkas extended the TPS for more than 600,000 Venezuelans to Oct 2, 2026. pic.twitter.com/AoXxNpuL3L
— Eddie (@Eddies_X) January 29, 2025
“Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months they were going to extend this protection to people that are on temporary protected status, which meant that they were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months,” Noem told Fox News.
“We stopped that,” she declared.
The Venezuelan migration surge has brought with it the violent Tren de Aragua gang. This criminal organization has been connected to various crimes nationwide, including apartment invasions in Colorado. The Trump administration has committed to removing these dangerous criminals from communities.
Noem personally participated in initial Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in New York City, where agents apprehended a TDA gang leader previously captured on video conducting an armed invasion of an Aurora, Colorado apartment complex in August.
