Many Venezuelans are preparing to leave the United States after Temporary Protected Status ended for more than 300,000 Venezuelans in the country, according to reports. The Supreme Court recently allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke legal protections for Venezuelan migrants, issuing an emergency order that paused a lower court ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco. The decision reversed a prior finding that the administration had improperly terminated temporary protected status for Venezuelans, with three liberal justices dissenting.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows individuals from countries facing conflict or disaster to live and work temporarily in the United States. Many Venezuelans are now closing businesses, selling homes, and booking flights out of the country following the order. Venezuelan American activist Adelys Ferro criticized the move, stating, “These are people who did everything by the book, paid taxes, had no criminal records, opened businesses, and contributed to their communities. Now they’re subject to deportation and have become collateral damage in this cruel, unjust, and inhumane political game.”
The TPS program, established by Congress in 1990, is designed to prevent deportations from nations experiencing natural disasters, civil strife, or dangerous conditions. A 56-year-old Venezuelan journalist described the U.S. government’s action as “essentially sending us back into the hands of our jailer,” citing risks of detention or returning to Venezuela’s harsh prison system.
Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, targeting migrants for deportation by stripping temporary legal protections. While Biden’s administration granted TPS eligibility to Venezuelans in 2021 and 2023, extending the program until October 2026 just before Trump’s return to office, the policy shift left many in limbo.
