Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has announced the termination of the 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela. The TPS designation, which currently allows certain Venezuelan nationals to remain in the United States, will expire on September 10, 2025. The official termination will take effect 60 days after a notice is published in the Federal Register.
By law, at least two months before a TPS designation expires, the secretary of homeland security must review conditions in the designated country and decide whether those conditions still justify protection from removal. This review involves consultation with other U.S. government agencies.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated: “Given Venezuela’s substantial role in driving irregular migration and the clear magnet effect created by Temporary Protected Status, maintaining or expanding TPS for Venezuelan nationals directly undermines the Trump Administration’s efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively. Weighing public safety, national security, migration factors, immigration policy, economic considerations, and foreign policy, it’s clear that allowing Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is not in America’s best interest.”
The decision followed discussions with interagency partners and was based on an assessment by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as well as input from the Department of State. Secretary Noem concluded that current conditions in Venezuela no longer meet statutory requirements for TPS and determined that continuing protection would be contrary to national interests.
Venezuelan nationals who are leaving the United States are encouraged to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure. This process offers a safe way to self-deport and includes benefits such as a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and possible future opportunities for legal immigration.
