The Biden government said on Monday it would offer temporary legal status to Venezuelans who illegally entered the United States after fleeing the country’s economic crisis, a designation that could affect hundreds of thousands of people.
Under the designation of temporary protection status (TPS), qualified Venezuelan citizens can apply to remain legally in the country for an 18-month period ending in September 2022. The White House cited “extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela”, including a hunger crisis, social repression, poor infrastructure and an increase in non-governmental armed groups as catalysts for action.
“Living conditions in Venezuela reveal a country in crisis, unable to protect its own citizens,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a statement. “It is in times of extraordinary and temporary circumstances like these that the United States comes forward to support the qualified Venezuelan citizens who are already present here, while their country seeks to recover from the current crises.”
Former President Donald Trump imposed severe sanctions on Nicolas Maduro’s regime, but resisted bipartisan calls to grant a TPS designation to Venezuelans during his term. In January, Trump enacted the Deferred Forced Departure program to protect some Venezuelan citizens from deportation for an 18-month period.
Under the Biden government’s policy, some 320,000 people could apply to live legally in the United States over the 18-month period, the Associated Press reported, citing a senior official. In 2019, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that a TPS order would apply to some 200,000 Venezuelans.
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request to clarify the exact number.
Venezuela’s economy collapsed under the Maduro regime, resulting in widespread food and drug shortages in recent years.
The United States was one of dozens of countries that recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president and called on Maduro to step down after contested election results. The Trump administration has enacted comprehensive sanctions on top Maduro regime officials as well as the country’s oil industry.
Potential applicants must demonstrate continued residency in the U.S. on March 8, 2021 to be eligible, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Venezuelans who enroll in the program during a 180-day enrollment period will undergo security and background checks.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer praised the decision, noting that it “demonstrates our nation’s commitment to supporting the protection of Venezuelans fleeing a corrupt regime”.
“The situation of the people of Venezuela is a challenge for the conscience of the world and I congratulate Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden for working to combat the humanitarian disaster in the region,” said Schumer.
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Florida Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott were among the prominent Republican Party officials who supported a TPS designation. Venezuela is one of 10 nations with temporary protection status.
“I have long advocated the provision of necessary assistance to help Venezuelan citizens residing in the United States with a work permit and a temporary solution, which is exactly what the Trump administration did earlier this year,” said Rubio in a statement. “I am happy that the Biden government shares this commitment and supports the granting of TPS status to qualified Venezuelan citizens currently in the United States”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.