The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed the revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelans, paving the way for their potential deportation. This decision aligns with a recent agreement between the U.S. and Venezuela, where the latter has consented to accept the return of its nationals.
Initially reported by The New York Times, the affected individuals will lose their temporary status 60 days after the official publication of the notice. TPS provides protection from deportation and work authorization for individuals residing in the U.S. whose home countries are deemed unsafe for return.
Towards the end of the Biden administration, then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended TPS for several countries, including Venezuela. This extension, if maintained, would have complicated the Trump administration's efforts to deport significant numbers of individuals from these nations. However, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently announced the revocation of the extension, specifically targeting those protected under the 2023 designation, while leaving the 2021 designation unaffected.
Republicans have consistently expressed concerns about the breadth of the TPS program, noting its application to 17 countries by the end of the Biden administration. The Trump administration has previously reduced the use of TPS and has indicated its intention to continue this trend.
Venezuelans represented a significant portion of arrivals during the 2021-2024 border surge, often entering through a separate parole program for specific nationalities, which has since been terminated by the Trump administration. Former President Trump recently announced via Truth Social that an agreement with Venezuela will facilitate the return of Venezuelan nationals, including gang members, with Venezuela providing transportation. This agreement revives a prior arrangement that was halted in early 2024.
These actions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strengthen border security and increase deportations. The administration has also restricted asylum use and deployed military personnel to the southern border. Recent activities include visits by Noem to the southern border and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's tour of Latin America, with Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth slated to visit the border soon.
