WASHINGTON/MARACAIBO, Venezuela, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Monday plans to revoke deportation protection from hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. as part of President Donald Trump's broader immigration enforcement approach.
The decision could potentially affect around 348,000 Venezuelan nationals with Temporary Protected Status, representing more than half of those currently under the program, leading to possible deportation and work permit loss in April, as outlined in a government notification.
The notice stated that the protected status was deemed no longer warranted due to changing circumstances in Venezuela that were no longer consistent with U.S. interests.
Former President Trump sought to curtail enrollment in the program during his tenure as part of his stance on illegal immigration, although this move faced legal challenges.
Temporary Protected Status is typically granted to individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or other extraordinary conditions.
Venezuelan migrant Ana Maria Pirela, 26, residing in California under temporary protection, expressed concerns about her uncertain future: "I don't know what will happen. Yesterday they fired my husband from his job... I don't want to go back to Venezuela."
In contrast to Trump's approach, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, significantly expanded the temporary protection program to cover over a million individuals from 17 countries, some with long-standing residency in the U.S., potentially facing immediate deportation without this status.
The termination of protections for Venezuelans follows a history of challenges amidst strained U.S.-Venezuela relations, and efforts to influence Venezuela to accept deported nationals have been complex.
Noem, the current Homeland Security Secretary, reversed an 18-month extension granted by the Biden administration to Venezuelans under temporary protection, emphasizing a shift in policy. Additionally, she halted automatic renewal of their status for six months.
Approximately 300,000 Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status, set to expire in September, were unaffected by the recent decision.
Despite ongoing hurdles in Venezuela, including economic struggles and crime, improvements in certain areas were cited as reasons for the termination of protection, paving the way for potential safe repatriation.
The termination notice specified a 60-day window post-publication in the Federal Register, estimated to take effect around the beginning of April.
Though Venezuela has seen some mitigated inflation and Maduro's government has implemented economic measures, the country's dire economic conditions persist for many citizens, with a minimal monthly wage of approximately $3.
The U.S. has accused President Maduro and his associates of drug trafficking, an allegation Maduro has refuted, further complicating the relationship between the two countries.
The Venezuelan opposition, amidst increased domestic pressures, has appealed to the U.S. to maintain the temporary protection program for Venezuelans in America.
Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition figure seeking refuge abroad, disclosed ongoing discussions with the U.S. to safeguard Venezuelans residing in the U.S.
Venezuelan migrant Tatiana Vazquez, located in Atlanta, expressed anxiety over recent arrests of fellow Venezuelans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), noting a sense of fear within the community: "There's anguish."