As the Trump administration tries to end Temporary Protected Status for countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, thousands of immigrants fleeing the economic and political crisis in Venezuela are looking for humanitarian protections under TPS, so they won’t be deported.
TPS allows immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S., without seeking permanent status such as citizenship or a green card.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has joined more than 20 of his colleagues who’ve signed a letter pressing President Trump to designate Venezuela for TPS.
“Obviously the president does not like doing that for anybody who is trying to flee desperate situations,” he told Connecticut Public Radio. “But I’m hoping that he might look favorably upon our letter and our request, given that he has strangely decided to get involved in regime change in Venezuela in a way that he has not in other places.”
The U.S. and more than 40 countries have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela, despite little indication that President Nicolas Maduro intends to leave power. Venezuela has been rocked by a humanitarian crisis amid runaway inflation. The Trump administration has introduced sanctions, frozen assets, imposed travel bans, and hinted at possible military intervention.
The senators’ request, which is also signed by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, says designating Venezuela for TPS would show a commitment to democratic political transition there.
Murphy admits he’s worried that the Trump administration has gotten ahead of itself in Venezuela.
“We seem to be pushing very hard for regime change without an actual strategy of how to do that,” said Murphy. “At the same time we should be in the business of rescuing people and I’m glad that Senator Rubio agrees with me, and I hope that he might be able to persuade the president. He seems to have a little bit more of the president’s ear than I do these days.”
Trump’s special envoy for Venezuela Elliot Abrams told a foreign relations subcommittee last week that TPS for Venezuela is currently “under review.”
