Trump Administration Ends Temporary Protection for Venezuelans in U.S.

Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, extended under Biden, will now end in September 2025, removing a crucial safety net for many.

Venezuelans living in the United States will lose approximately one year of temporary protection from deportation after the Trump administration reversed a recent decision made by President Joe Biden.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of the extension to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted by Biden, which had allowed eligible Venezuelans to legally stay and work in the U.S. through October 2026.

Now, those who have held TPS since March 11, 2024, will see their protection end on September 10, 2025.

TPS is a designation provided to individuals already in the U.S. who cannot safely return to their home country due to adverse conditions such as natural disasters, armed conflict, or political turmoil. In this case, Venezuela's ongoing political and humanitarian crisis has made it perilous for its citizens to return.

Although TPS beneficiaries are shielded from deportation and can legally work in the U.S., they do not have a direct path to citizenship unless sponsored by a family member or employer. The protection is typically valid for several months and requires renewal, based on consultations between the president, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of State.

As of January 2025, about 600,000 Venezuelans were eligible for TPS after Biden’s extension. Venezuela's severe economic crisis, compounded by political instability and widespread shortages of basic necessities, has forced millions of its citizens to flee the country in search of safety and survival.

During the 2020 campaign, former President Donald Trump and then-Vice President JD Vance expressed support for scaling back TPS in favor of mass deportations, a key component of Trump’s immigration agenda.