---
title: "Trump administration moves to terminate deportation protections for 348,000 Venezuelans"
description: "WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday moved to terminate deportation relief for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S., part of President Donald Trump's expanding immigration crackdown."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-03-trump-administration-moves-to-terminate-deportation-protections-for-348000-venezuelans/"
published: "2025-02-03T20:59:39"
updated: "2025-02-04T18:41:56"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 322
---

# Trump administration moves to terminate deportation protections for 348,000 Venezuelans

> WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday moved to terminate deportation relief for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S., part of President Donald Trump's expanding immigration crackdown.

By Reuters · Published 3 February 2025, 22:59 SAST · Updated 4 February 2025, 20:41 SAST

## Key points
- In a move that would make even a seasoned game show host raise an eyebrow, the U.S. government has decided to yank Temporary Protected Status from 348,000 Venezuelans, declaring their homeland's conditions sufficiently improved—because who doesn’t love a surprise twist in the immigration saga?
- Approximately 348,000 Venezuelans will lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and work permits by April, as the U.S. government cites improved conditions in Venezuela.
- The Biden administration expanded TPS to over 1 million individuals, but the recent decision reflects a shift back to Trump-era policies.
- Deportations may become more feasible as Venezuela reportedly agrees to accept deportees, despite ongoing challenges in U.S.-Venezuela relations.
- The termination of TPS will take effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, impacting many long-term residents.

## Content

By Ted Hesson

The decision means about 348,000 Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will lose deportation relief and access to work permits by April, according to a related government notice, which said conditions in Venezuela no longer warranted the protections and that they were contrary to U.S. interests.

Trump, a Republican, took office on Jan. 20 [vowing to crack down](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3NY010&linkedFromStory=true) on illegal immigration and humanitarian programs he says go beyond the intent of U.S. law. Trump tried to end most TPS enrollment during his first term but [was stymied](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AKBN26530B&linkedFromStory=true) by federal courts.

TPS is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event.

Biden, a Democrat, greatly expanded the program and it now covers more than 1 million people from 17 nations. Many of those migrants - including some in the U.S. for decades - could be vulnerable to immediate deportation if they lose the status.

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans arrived in the U.S. during Biden's presidency, many via[legal humanitarian pathways](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-grants-some-venezuelans-speedy-entry-under-new-program-sponsors-say-2022-11-02/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-grants-some-venezuelans-speedy-entry-under-new-program-sponsors-say-2022-11-02/), and deporting them has been challenging due to frosty U.S.-Venezuela relations. On Saturday, Trump said Venezuela [had agreed](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3M2003&linkedFromStory=true) to accept all deportees, but provided few details.

Last week, Noem [rolled back](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3O9016&linkedFromStory=true) an 18-month extension of TPS for Venezuelans by her predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, saying the Trump administration did not want to be bound by the Biden-era determination.

About 300,000 additional Venezuelans have TPS protections that expire in September and were not affected by Monday's decision.

DHS said in the termination notice that while some challenging conditions remain in Venezuela, "there are notable improvements in several areas such as the economy, public health, and crime that allow for these nationals to be safely returned to their home country."

The termination will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, the notice said.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson and Jasper Ward; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Chizu Nomiyama)