Trump Administration Ends TPS for Over 268,000 Venezuelans

Trump Ends TPS for Venezuelans

More Than 268,000 Affected

Protection Expires in 2025

According to Univision, President Donald Trump’s administration has announced the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, a measure affecting more than 268,000 migrants from that country who have benefited from the program since 2021.

The decision, disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), means that the protection designation will end on September 10, 2025, taking effect 60 days after the official notice is published in the Federal Register.

TPS was originally created to provide temporary relief to people from nations facing humanitarian crises, armed conflicts, or natural disasters.

However, for the Trump administration, continuing to extend this benefit to Venezuelans no longer serves U.S. national interests.

Security and Immigration Control Arguments

BREAKING | Trump administration ends TPS for more than 260,000 Venezuelans registered in 2021 and urges them to self-deport https://t.co/EXtITtIkOA pic.twitter.com/QyUw1sHgoB

— AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) September 3, 2025

DHS stated that Venezuelan TPS represents, in official terms, a “magnet effect” that encourages irregular migration to the U.S. southern border.

Matthew Tragesser, spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said that extending this status “undermines the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the border and effectively manage migration.”

According to the statement, the measure followed an evaluation of public safety, national security, migration, economy, and foreign policy factors.

Based on that assessment, the government concluded that allowing Venezuelan citizens to remain under TPS “does not benefit the country.”

Direct Impact on 268,000 Venezuelans

Trump Administration Ends TPS for Venezuelans – FOTO: EFE

Official figures show that more than 268,000 Venezuelans benefited from the TPS approved in 2021.

This status allowed them to remain in the United States with work authorization while Venezuela faced a deep economic, political, and social crisis.

Now, with the decision to cancel the program, thousands of Venezuelan families will be at risk of deportation once the legal grace period expires.

The measure also raises uncertainty in communities in cities such as Miami, Houston, and New York, where large Venezuelan populations reside.

Venezuelan TPS: Conditions and Official Justification

#BREAKING DHS ends TPS for Venezuelans pic.twitter.com/xDKrxqahcg

— Giandry Alfonzo (@GiandryAlfonzo) September 3, 2025

The DHS statement asserted that current conditions in Venezuela “no longer meet the legal requirements for TPS.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that the protection granted in 2021 “is contrary to the national interest” and therefore had to be eliminated.

This argument contrasts with reports from international organizations that continue to describe Venezuela as being in critical condition, marked by hyperinflation, political instability, and mass migration.

Despite this, the Trump administration maintains that the conditions no longer justify an exceptional migration status.

Self-Deportation as an Alternative Proposed by DHS

As part of the announcement, DHS invited affected Venezuelans to use the CBP Home app to voluntarily report their departure from the country.

The government is offering a “safe self-deportation” package that includes a plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and the possibility of future opportunities for legal immigration.

According to the administration, this mechanism aims to provide an orderly and safe pathway for those unable to comply with the new rules.

However, immigrant advocates consider it a coercive measure that fails to reflect the reality of those who fled Venezuela out of necessity.

Reactions and Consequences of the Cancellation of Venezuelan TPS

The DHS announcement has sparked strong criticism from community leaders, immigration attorneys, and humanitarian organizations.

They argue that eliminating TPS ignores Venezuela’s ongoing crisis and endangers thousands of families already established in the United States.

At the same time, the decision reinforces Trump’s hardline immigration policy, centered on detention, deportation, and the rollback of humanitarian protections.

With this shift, the future of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. now depends on new legal measures, judicial appeals, or political changes that could overturn the decision.