Venezuelan advocates in South Florida are mobilizing to fight the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which affects hundreds of thousands facing potential deportation. They label the decision as political persecution and plan to file legal challenges. Community leaders emphasize the importance of TPS for both individuals and local economies.
South Florida’s Venezuelan advocates are organizing to contest the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the U.S., which affects hundreds of thousands. They see the Trump administration’s decision as political persecution and plan to challenge it in court. Leaders from various nonprofits argue that the decision undermines their community, especially following Nicolás Maduro’s controversial reelection, which exacerbated the instability Venezuelans fled.
Adelys Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, stated, “There will be multiple court cases demanding the nullification of this measure… We will use every legal avenue this country provides… to ensure the truth about the Venezuelan community in this nation is heard.” Meanwhile, the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed their support for the Venezuelan community, with Deputy Director Gustavo Rivera affirming, “We stand united with the Venezuelan population in the U.S. to help reverse this unjust decision.”
There are over 900,000 Venezuelans in the U.S., with around 500,000 holding TPS. The Trump administration’s recent revocation of TPS is particularly concerning for nearly 350,000 individuals due to terminate in April. The Department of Homeland Security cited improvements in Venezuela as a reason, yet they acknowledged that even if conditions remain, the national interest does not warrant TPS continuation.
The Homeland Security notice claimed that TPS has enabled many individuals without clear immigration status to settle in the U.S., presenting challenges for local communities. Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “TPS has been abused,” suggesting that some Venezuelans are linked to criminal organizations. Ferro countered this, highlighting that only around 0.04% of TPS recipients have connections to gangs, stressing the rigorous background checks involved in the TPS application process.
José Antonio Colina from Veppex emphasized the worsening conditions in Venezuela, contradicting the administration’s claims of improvement. He stated, “The country now faces an illegitimate president… This regime not only persecutes but disappears anyone who opposes it.” Concerns over the local economy arose, with Doral’s Vice Mayor Maureen Porras warning of economic collapse should Venezuelans lose TPS, as many contribute substantially to the local economy. She stated, “If these individuals are forced to leave, we would be left in a serious economic downturn.”
Doral officials emphasized the risks facing returned Venezuelans. Councilman Rafael Pineyro remarked on the dangers posed by the Maduro regime, highlighting the dire conditions in Venezuela. He criticized Noem’s comments as indicative of a broader misunderstanding of the Venezuelan community, reiterating that the majority of Venezuelans are hard-working individuals seeking better opportunities in the U.S.
While Doral Mayor Christi Fraga supported a firm stance against illegitimate immigration, she recognized the significant contributions of Venezuelans to the community, saying, “This has become their home and we know how positive they have been in our community.”
The article centers around the fight of Venezuelan immigrants in South Florida against the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which protects Venezuelans from deportation amid ongoing turmoil in their home country. This decision has provoked widespread concern among local immigrant advocacy groups and community leaders, who warn of the dire consequences of this action on the Venezuelan population in the U.S. and the communities they support.
The battle over TPS for Venezuelans highlights the intersection of immigration policy and community stability in the U.S. Advocates are preparing to legally contest the termination, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable populations amid claims of political persecution. The repercussions of this decision extend to individual lives as well as local economies, with officials warning of potential economic decline in areas with significant Venezuelan communities.
Original Source: www.miamiherald.com
