Maribel Hidalgo fled Venezuela with her 1-year-old son, enduring a perilous journey through Panama’s Darien Gap and Mexico to reach the U.S. They were living in the U.S. when the Biden administration offered Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans, allowing them to stay and work legally due to the dangerous conditions in their home country. TPS has also been granted to citizens from countries like Haiti, Afghanistan, and Sudan. However, President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have promised mass deportations and plan to scale back TPS, which could affect over a million immigrants, including many Venezuelans, Haitians, and Salvadorans.
Trump and Vance have made controversial claims about immigrants under TPS, including debunked stories about Haitian refugees, and have vowed to halt mass grants of TPS and humanitarian parole. Hidalgo, deeply anxious, fears being sent back to Venezuela after the sacrifices she made to reach the U.S. As of now, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country, and many depend on TPS for their security.
While TPS is a temporary measure, it has been extended in many cases, providing relief for up to 18 months. However, it could be terminated with 60 days’ notice, a scenario some legal experts, such as UCLA law professor Ahilan T. Arulanantham, believe could lead to legal challenges. Advocates are urging the Biden administration to expand TPS protections, particularly for Nicaraguans fleeing oppression under President Ortega’s government.
Also read: U.S. Envoy to Visit Beirut for Ceasefire Talks Amid Intensified Israeli-Hezbollah Conflict
