The Trump administration’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants has sparked outrage and feelings of betrayal among Venezuelan Americans, particularly in South Florida, where many supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election. The move places roughly 350,000 Venezuelans at immediate risk of deportation starting in April 2025, with another 250,000 losing protections by September.
“They lied to us.”
Many Venezuelan Americans who voted for Trump say they were assured during his campaign that their family and friends, as legal immigrants, would not face repercussions.
Adelys Ferro, director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, called the decision “shameful and cruel,” accusing Republicans of using the community for political gain before abandoning them.
In Doral, Florida—a city where 40% of residents are of Venezuelan heritage and Trump won 60% of the Latino vote—residents described the policy reversal as a breach of trust.
TPS recipients underwent rigorous background checks and are legally employed taxpayers, contradicting claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the program was exploited by criminals.
The abrupt termination of protections, despite the Biden administration’s prior 18-month extension, has left families in limbo. Many had purchased homes, started businesses, or applied for asylum under the assumption of stability.
Three Florida Republican lawmakers—Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez, and María Elvira Salazar—publicly broke with Trump, warning that ending TPS would harm “law-abiding” Venezuelans who integrated into communities. Their criticism highlights a rift within the GOP, as South Florida’s Venezuelan diaspora has been a growing Republican voter base.
Advocates argue deportations would force individuals back to a country still gripped by authoritarianism, economic collapse, and shortages of food and medicine. Beatriz Olavarria, a Venezuelan activist, stated returning could be a “death sentence” for those who publicly criticized Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Legal groups, including the Venezuelan American Caucus and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), are preparing lawsuits to block the policy, citing inconsistencies in the administration’s rationale.
Noem framed the decision as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration, alleging TPS incentivized unlawful migration and enabled gang members from Tren de Aragua (TdA) to enter the U.S. However, Ferro noted only 0.04% of TPS holders (about 600 people) have alleged ties to TdA, calling the administration’s focus disproportionate. The Department of Homeland Security also claimed conditions in Venezuela have improved—a stance contested by advocates and bipartisan lawmakers who cite ongoing political repression and economic instability.
Terminating TPS threatens to destabilize families and local economies. In Georgia alone, an estimated 6,000 Venezuelans working in construction, warehousing, and poultry processing could lose jobs, exacerbating labor shortages. Small businesses, like Weston’s Arepas Magnet Plus, fear closures if owners lose work permits. The decision marks a stark reversal from Trump’s earlier support for Venezuelan exiles opposing Maduro, leaving many to question the administration’s geopolitical strategy amid ongoing negotiations with the Venezuelan government. As legal battles unfold, the crisis underscores the precariousness of temporary immigration protections under shifting political priorities.