Trump Ends Protection Status For Over Three Lakh Venezuelans, Deportation Relief To Expire In Two Months

The administration of United States (US) President Donald Trump has officially terminated deportation relief for more than 300,000 Venezuelans in the United States, according to a report by The New York Times and The Hindu.

The decision impacts nearly half of the 600,000 Venezuelans currently residing in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and is expected to take effect within two months.

Affected individuals will lose their deportation protections and work permits 60 days after the federal government publishes the termination notice. 

However, the exact publication date remains unclear. According to the Times, the remaining 300,000 Venezuelans with TPS protections will retain their status until September, while those impacted by the pending termination had protections only through April.

Since taking office on 20 January, President Trump has reiterated his commitment to curbing illegal immigration and reforming humanitarian programs that he believes extend beyond the original intent of US law.

During his first term, his administration attempted to end most TPS enrollments, but legal challenges in federal courts prevented these efforts from being fully implemented.

Additionally, Trump announced on Saturday (1 February) that Venezuela had agreed to accept the repatriation of its nationals who had entered the US without legal authorization. The Venezuelan government has not issued an official response regarding the claim.

TPS provides temporary legal protections to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary crises.

The termination of these protections is expected to have significant legal and humanitarian implications for the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States.