[Karah Rucker]

The Trump administration has repealed an extension of “Temporary Protected Status” for Venezuelans in the U.S. that was put in place by the Biden administration in its final days before the leadership change.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in an interview with fox news that she rescinded the 18-month extension, which had been signed by Biden’s Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months, they were going to extend this protection to people on temporary protected status, which means they could stay here and violate laws for another 18 months and we stopped that.

Today we signed executive order within dhs that we would not follow through on what he did to tie our hands, we will follow the process and evaluate all these individuals in our country.”

As of December 2024, more than 500,000 Venezuelans held protective status under the TPS PROGRAM – 

Which protects individuals from countries in crisis, shielding them from deportation and allowing them to work legally in the u.s.

The Biden administration recently renewed the designation through October 2026, citing ongoing humanitarian, economic, and political crises in Venezuela. 

Venezuela’s authoritarian regime has seen an increase in political persecution since its 2024 presidential election – which saw president nicolas maduro claim victory –something the u.s. Called a sham.

Florida has the highest number of venezuelans on “temporary protected status.”

A republican congresswoman from the state wants to see venezuelans stay protected from deportation under the TPS program.

But says the real solution – would be president trump forcing maduro out.

Maria elvira salazar said in a statement to the miami herald –

  “Venezuela’s Dictator Nicolas Maduro jails, beats, rapes, and kills anyone who speaks against him.There is a simple solution to this: Maduro has to go! Trump is the only force to get him out. Once Maduro is gone — there will be peace for Venezuelans.”

The trump administration’s reversal on biden’s extension now reinstates the expiration dates  

set before the extension was granted –

Through april of this year for some in the program – and through september for others.

Noem will need to make a determination on whether to extend or end the protections –

Something she says will be done by assessing each individual rather than blanket protections.

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