US policies Venezuelan migrants

Washington (dpa) — The US government on Wednesday announced it will revoke temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Venezuela’s role in “driving illegal migration” undermined US efforts to secure the southern border and manage migration effectively.

Officials added that the protected status encouraged people to enter the United States without valid documents.

The status had been granted under the Biden administration in 2021. According to US media, around 250,000 Venezuelans could be affected, placing them in the country illegally if the protection is removed.

The DHS said the termination would be effective 60 days after the publication of the Federal Register notice.

According to the US government, the regime of authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro has turned Venezuela into a narco-state, entering into partnership with Colombian guerrillas to export drugs to Europe and the US through an organization known as the Cartel of the Suns, allegedly made up of high-ranking Venezuelan officials.