Washington, D.C. – Today, the Biden administration announced it will offer deportation relief and work permits to tens of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S. by expanding eligibility for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The expansion is expected to apply to Venezuelans who have been living in the U.S. as of today, and includes many who have lived in the U.S. for decades without relief.
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, State and Local Policy Manager of United We Dream, said:
“The Biden administration’s decision to expand TPS to include thousands of Venezuelan immigrants was delivered because of our fearless organizers and allies who have fought for every opportunity to protect immigrant communities. Our power is undeniable! This is a welcomed victory that will protect an estimated 320,000 people from the looming threat of deportation, and our fight doesn’t end here.
Programs like TPS and DACA have allowed hundreds of thousands of immigrants the opportunity to obtain work permits and receive protections from deportations. These programs and protections are only temporary, however. At any moment, Judge Hanen in Texas can rule to terminate DACA, leaving around 650,000 immigrant youth vulnerable to detention and deportation. Additionally, millions still remain ineligible for TPS and DACA, which is why we will continue to fight to deliver a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented people.
There are key opportunities for the Biden administration and Congress to deliver permanent protections for immigrant communities. This includes urgently passing the Dream & Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, two bills reintroduced in the House last week that would provide a pathway to citizenship for over 4 million undocumented immigrants. Additionally, President Biden must take immediate action to release immigrants from detention and deliver on his promise of stopping deportations. As a movement, we will not stop fighting until permanent solutions are delivered for ALL immigrants in our community. The Biden administration must deliver on its promises to our community!”
