Written by Daniel Whitaker.

The Trump administration has officially revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 600,000 Venezuelans, removing legal protections that kept them safe from deportation. The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, reverses an extension put in place during the final days of the Biden administration.

Noem’s move aligns with Trump’s broader promise to enforce stricter immigration policies and conduct mass deportations. In an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Noem criticized the previous extension, stating, “Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months they were going to extend this protection… We stopped that.”

For the Venezuelans who relied on this program, the announcement has sparked fear and uncertainty. Many now face the possibility of deportation in just a few months.

What This Means for Venezuelans in the U.S.

The immediate impact of this decision is clear: those who previously had protection from deportation under TPS could soon be forced to leave the country. Many of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for years, working legally and contributing to their communities. Now, they are left scrambling to figure out their next steps.

Caren Añez, a single mother and former journalist from Venezuela, is one of them. She initially came to the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2023 and later applied for TPS. Now, with the revocation of these protections, she’s terrified of what the future holds.

“I’m scared even though I’m here legally and I arrived legally,” Añez said. She explained that returning to Venezuela isn’t an option because of the risks she faces due to her past work as a journalist critical of the Maduro regime.

Her situation is not unique. The Venezuelan government, under Nicolas Maduro, has a long history of persecuting dissenting voices, and many migrants fear for their safety if forced to return.

Why Venezuelans Are Fleeing Their Country

Venezuela’s economic and political crisis has been driving its citizens out of the country for over a decade. Since 2013, when President Nicolas Maduro took office, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left, with many settling in Latin American countries. However, in recent years, the U.S. has become a primary destination, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic worsened economic conditions across the region.

The biggest factors pushing Venezuelans to leave include:

• Economic collapse: Hyperinflation, food shortages, and a lack of basic necessities have made daily life unsustainable.
• Political repression: The Maduro government has cracked down on opposition, journalists, and activists, leading many to seek safety abroad.
• Lack of opportunities: Even for those without direct political threats, finding stable work and securing basic services has become nearly impossible in Venezuela.

These conditions aren’t changing anytime soon, meaning more Venezuelans are likely to try to leave their country in search of safety and stability. However, without legal protections like TPS, their options are shrinking.

The Legal Battle Ahead

Immigration advocates are already preparing to fight this decision in court. The National TPS Alliance has indicated that it is ready to challenge the revocation, arguing that abruptly ending these protections is not only cruel but also legally questionable.

TPS was originally established by Congress in 1990 to protect people from being deported to countries experiencing severe crises such as war, natural disasters, or political instability. While TPS is temporary by nature, critics argue that it has become a de facto long-term solution, as protections are often extended for years.

However, federal regulations do allow the government to terminate TPS early under certain circumstances. While rare, Trump attempted similar rollbacks during his first term, only to face multiple lawsuits that delayed deportations. If history is any indication, this latest move is likely to result in another protracted legal battle.

Uncertain Future for Other TPS Beneficiaries

While the current decision only applies to Venezuelans, it raises questions about the status of other TPS recipients. The Biden administration had extended protections not just for Venezuelans, but also for more than 230,000 Salvadorans, 103,000 Ukrainians, and 1,900 Sudanese living in the U.S. Noem has not yet commented on what will happen to these groups, but given Trump’s broader immigration stance, many fear they could be next.

If Noem takes no further action, the protections for Venezuelans expiring in April and September will automatically extend for another six months. However, she has until Saturday to decide on the April group and until July 12 for the September group.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that the U.S. currently has no diplomatic relations with Venezuela. This means deportation efforts would be difficult, as there is no formal process for returning individuals to the country. In past situations, this has resulted in TPS recipients remaining in legal limbo—unable to work legally but also not actively deported.

Our Take

This decision is a major step in Trump’s broader immigration agenda, but it comes with serious consequences. While it’s true that TPS was never intended to be a permanent solution, abruptly ending these protections without an alternative plan leaves hundreds of thousands of people in crisis. Many illegal Venezuelans who live in the U.S. now face the threat of deportation to a country in economic and political turmoil.