The U.S. Supreme Court this week upheld the decision of President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Venezuelans. This measure leaves them at risk of deportation to Venezuela, a country still facing a humanitarian crisis, insecurity and political repression.
Faced with the impact of the measure, the current Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, declared on Wednesday that Venezuelan citizens covered by TPS still have a hope: the legal option of requesting political asylum. Marco Rubio stated that many of these applications would be “very credible” because of the political and social situation in their country of origin.
“Asylum is a viable path.”
During a hearing in the House of Representatives, Marco Rubio emphasized that even though TPS has been eliminated, Venezuelans are not totally helpless.
“Now, those who had TPS can apply for the asylum process.”
Creo que muchas de esas peticiones serán válidas
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio, of Cuban origin and a well-known advocate of sanctions against the regime of Nicolás Maduro, expressed his concern about the way in which Joe Biden’s administration granted TPS.
He suggested that it was granted without a rigorous background filter.
However, he also clarified: “Of course most of them are not criminals, but if 1,000 of them are, that is a serious problem.
Fears of mass deportations
Buzzy
Human rights organizations and Venezuelan community leaders in the U.S. have warned that the revocation of TPS could result in forced deportations to a country that is still unstable and dangerous.
The Supreme Court’s decision has been widely criticized by Democratic groups and immigration advocates.
They consider that it puts the lives of thousands of people at risk.
TPS, in effect since 1990, has allowed citizens of countries in crisis to live and work legally in the United States.
In the case of Venezuela, it was granted by Biden in 2021 following a recognition of the institutional collapse in the South American country.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
