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EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: The Department of Homeland Security has officially announced the termination of the 2021 Temporary Protected Status designation for Venezuelans, as confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
Under the Biden administration, two designations of Temporary Protected Status were created for Venezuelan nationals. The first one, initiated in 2021, has now been ended. Furthermore, the second designation established in 2023 also faced termination on April 7, 2023, under the Trump administration.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security commented on the decision, stating that Venezuela’s significant role in driving irregular migration and the appeal created by Temporary Protected Status undermines efforts to manage migration effectively at the southern border. This perspective follows a broader policy aimed at enhancing national security.
The spokesperson elaborated by saying that various factors, including public safety, national security, immigration considerations, and economic impacts, guided this difficult decision. The analysis concluded that maintaining Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan nationals does not align with America’s best interests.
As a result of the cancellation of the 2021 TPS designation, approximately 268,156 Venezuelans currently in the United States will lose their protected status, leading to the end of their legal residency in the country. This change represents a significant shift affecting a large community of Venezuelan immigrants.
Aside from individuals losing their status, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that 3,738 pending initial applications for Temporary Protected Status, along with 102,935 pending renewal applications, will also be nullified as of today.
The Department of Homeland Security recommends that those no longer protected by Temporary Protected Status use the Customs and Border Protection Home Mobile App to assist in their departure from the United States.
The current TPS designation is set to expire on September 10, 2025. The termination of the 2021 designation will take effect 60 days after the federal register notice is published, marking an important timeline for those affected.
Earlier this year, after the 2023 TPS designation was revoked, an estimated 348,000 Venezuelan nationals lost their protected status and were required to organize their departure from the country.
Importantly, the move to end Temporary Protected Status follows revelations reported by Fox News Digital that the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that some Venezuelan officials might facilitate migration for members of the Tren De Aragua gang, a violent criminal organization originating from Venezuela.
In a recent statement, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expressed his view that the U.S. is pursuing a regime change in Venezuela through military threats, particularly noting increased naval activity in nearby waters. He described the current situation as unprecedented in magnitude over the past century.
Amid these developments, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed during an interview with Fox & Friends that a successful military operation recently destroyed a Venezuelan drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing 11 alleged members of the Tren De Aragua gang.
This situation continues to unfold during a period of heightened scrutiny regarding U.S. immigration policies and international relations in the region. As many Venezuelans face uncertainty, the focus remains on the implications of these policy changes on both individuals and broader U.S. immigration strategy.
Moving forward, analysts and policymakers will closely monitor how this decision affects Venezuelan nationals currently residing in the United States and what steps they may take in response. The landscape may continue to evolve as further actions are expected from both the U.S. government and Venezuelan leadership in the coming months.
