Venezuelans seek opportunities in the US

The current situation in Venezuela has drawn the attention of several governments around the world. The shortage of food, resources, employment and social benefits has forced thousands of Venezuelans to seek opportunities and alternatives in other countries to protect their families and find economic stability.

Many Venezuelans decide to migrate to the US to request international protection and build a promising future. However, for the past four years, President Trump did not assist Venezuelan citizens until the last minute, one day before leaving office. (We will return to this topic later).

Now that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is the current president of the US, who took office on January 20, 2021, several members of the Senate, activist groups, and immigrant rights advocates hope Venezuelan citizens will have more opportunities to apply for legal residence permits or relief from deportation.

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Senators present legislation to offer TPS to Venezuelans

On Monday, January 25, several Democratic Senators, including Bob Menéndez, the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the “Venezuela Temporary Protected Status Act of 2021,” a proposal that was rejected in 2019 by Republican Senators.

It is important to clarify that TPS (Temporary Protected Status) is an immigration benefit available to citizens of certain countries, who currently reside in the US without documentation and who, under this program, are protected against deportation for a period of time previously established by DHS (Department of Homeland Security). DHS, apart from determining the duration of TPS, must also choose beneficiary countries of this temporary amnesty.

Despite the fact that Democratic senators have tried to offer TPS to undocumented Venezuelans in the US, it was not possible under the Trump administration. However, they hope that the Biden administration will expand alternatives for this vulnerable population as Venezuela is going through an “unprecedented economic, humanitarian, security, and human rights crisis” under the Maduro regime.

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Trump’s latest move to protect Venezuelans

One day before leaving office, President Trump granted DED (Deferred Enforced Departure) for 18 months to eligible Venezuelans currently residing in the US without legal documentation. This relief program, like TPS, offers protection against deportation and also allows beneficiaries to apply for an EAD (Employment Authorization Document).

One of the main differences between these programs is that the President of the US, not DHS, has the right to choose designated countries for DED.

However, Senate Democrats state that DED does not offer enough stability for Venezuelan citizens. In fact, Menéndez explained that “TPS is based in statute and is a legal immigration status, as opposed to Deferred Enforced Departure. That is why we are relaunching our campaign to actually stand with those fleeing the misery caused by the Maduro regime (…) In consultation with the Biden administration, I look forward to finally making TPS for Venezuelans a reality in the near future.”

This is truly hopeful news for the roughly 200,000 Venezuelans currently residing in the US.

Our team can guide you through your immigration journey in the US

It is important to follow the advice of experts when it comes to immigration processes, regardless of whether your case is related to employment, study or family visas.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.