HOUSTON, Texas –The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension for Venezuelans, which could affect approximately 600,000 Venezuelans currently residing in the United States.
TPS is a legal status granted by Congress since 1990 to individuals from countries facing humanitarian crises, such as war or natural disasters.
The status provides deportation protection and work permits but does not offer a path to citizenship.
Venezuelans were granted TPS in 2021 by the Biden administration due to the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in Venezuela.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi L. Noem has stated that individuals with TPS are “violating our laws,” though TPS is a legal status authorized by Congress.
While TPS recipients undergo background checks and are disqualified if they have criminal records, the revocation of the extension leaves many individuals uncertain about their future status in the U.S.
Noem is reviewing the decision and may issue new guidelines for extending TPS by February 1, 2025.
If no new decision is made by that date, TPS will automatically renew for an additional six months. This provides temporary relief, but the long-term status of TPS holders remains uncertain.
In Houston, one of the cities with a large Venezuelan population, the number of Venezuelan residents rose from 2010 to 2021, with at least 54,000 living in the area by 2021.
Advocates for TPS recipients, including the Venezuelan American Center in Houston, have urged those affected to wait for further guidance from DHS.
In response to the DHS decision, some community leaders have expressed concern over the potential impact on families and individuals, particularly those fleeing difficult conditions in Venezuela.
Laura Becerra, a Venezuelan immigrant and director at the Workers Defense organization, called the revocation “cruel and heartless,” pointing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela as a reason for continued protection.
