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CHICAGO (WLS) — Last year, the Trump administration deported over 13,000 Venezuelans following the withdrawal of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Advocates are pressing for a halt to these deportations and the restoration of TPS until conditions in Venezuela improve. Nonetheless, recent signals from the administration indicate no plans to reverse their stance.
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While Venezuelans in the United States rejoice over the downfall and capture of former President Nicolás Maduro, there remains an air of uncertainty. Many are left wondering about the implications for the vast number whose legal protections have been revoked.
“We have clear laws against returning individuals to places where they could face harm. However, there are no safeguards for Venezuelans because their TPS was rescinded,” explained Christopher Helt, President of the National Trial Lawyers Immigration Law Section.
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Roughly 600,000 Venezuelans lost their protected status last year. The administration justified this decision by claiming that conditions in Venezuela had improved, making TPS unnecessary. This perspective was reiterated by Department of Homeland Security officials over the weekend on Fox News.
“They can now go home with hope for their country, a country that they love that is going to have peace, prosperity and stability,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
But will they return of their own volition? It is estimated that some 50,000 Venezuelan migrants settled in Illinois over the last three years after being bused there from Texas. Advocates say it is unrealistic to expect them all to leave, even with Maduro now out of power.
“The first thing we would like to see happen is for deportations to be stopped,” said Luciano Pedota with the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance. “It’s still a very dangerous place. We’re very concerned about how it’s going to play out.”
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The administration implied over the weekend that those who feel their safety is at risk can apply for asylum. The problem is, for most already here, that the time frame for doing that has already passed.
“There are thousands and thousands of Venezuelans who did not file within one year of entering the United States. Why? Because they had TPS. So, for those who want to file now, they are facing a huge uphill battle,” Helt said.
And even those with pending asylum cases are in limbo.
“It’s not the moment. I’m sure some Venezuelans would like to go back, eventually,” Pedota said.
But even as some immigration observers expect judges to begin denying asylum petitions based on a changed situation on the ground in Venezuela, attorneys say policy is changing constantly, and Venezuelans here need to remain up-to-date on all of those changes.
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