Some 242,000 Venezuelans already granted temporary protection will have their status extended, while another 472,000 may be eligible.
The Biden administration will allow nearly half a million Venezuelans already in the United States—including those who illegally entered the country—to file for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will allow them to temporarily work and be protected from deportations, the White House announced on Sept. 20.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced that the department is extending and redesignating its TPS program for Venezuelan nationals for 18 months due to “extraordinary and temporary conditions” in Venezuela that prevent individuals from safely returning.
Mr. Mayorkas noted the ongoing humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions in the troubled South American nation.
Some 242,000 Venezuelan immigrants already have TPS status following a 2022 decision for an extension of their protection until March 10, 2024.
However, the Wednesday announcement of redesignation will extend eligibility to applicants who arrived in the United States on or before July 31 this year.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the redesignation means that another roughly 472,000 Venezuelans currently in the United States may be eligible for protection under the program, which provides illegal immigrants employment authorization and protections from removal for a specified period, usually 18 months.
“Temporary protected status provides individuals already present in the United States with protection from removal when the conditions in their home country prevent their safe return,” Mr. Mayorkas said.
“That is the situation that Venezuelans who arrived here on or before July 31 of this year find themselves in. We are accordingly granting them the protection that the law provides. However, it is critical that Venezuelans understand that those who have arrived here after July 31, 2023, are not eligible for such protection, and instead will be removed when they are found to not have a legal basis to stay,” he said.
The department noted that immigrants applying for TPS under the redesignation must demonstrate that they are Venezuelan nationals, “or individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela,” who have been continuously residing in the United States since July and meet other eligibility criteria, like not having a criminal history in the United States.
