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Jan. 10, 2024 - Chicago, IL - Today, the Biden Administration decided to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the U.S. before July 31, 2023. This decision is based on the political and economic crises that have left the country in a humanitarian emergency, making it impossible for around 600,000 Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. to return to their home country. Current immigration policy grants the executive branch of government discretionary power to extend this form of protection.

“We value President Biden's decision to extend this much-needed protection for the largest Latin American community of TPS holders in the U.S. The beneficiaries of this decision are individuals and families who have arrived in recent years and are integrating into the U.S. They are hard-working individuals who are overcoming cultural and language barriers, acquiring certifications of their educational background and professional competencies, organizing and moving forward,” stated Dulce Guzmán, Alianza Americas’ executive director. “This decision will give peace of mind to Venezuelan individuals and families as they struggle to build homes, contribute to their communities, and raise their children in the U.S. This is the result of the hard work of civil society organizations and journalists who have documented and denounced the political situation in Venezuela and its impact on its citizens,” concluded Ms. Guzmán.

“We understand the uncertainty of a Temporary Protective Status holder, and we share the joy and respite that this decision brings to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. However, we understand the uncertainty of recent Venezuelan arrivals not protected under this TPS extension, who also would face significant danger if returned to their country,” stated Yanira Arias, a TPS beneficiary and Alianza Americas’ Migrant Justice Coordinator. “We will continue to reach out to the members of the 119^th U.S. Congress and educate them on the importance of laws that recognize the fact that so many immigrants have earned, with their hard work and their multiple contributions to U.S. society, the right to apply for legal permanent residency status,” concluded Ms. Arias. 

We urge the Biden administration to extend TPS for other countries with approaching deadlines. The situation in several countries, including Haiti and Honduras, merits an extension. Finally, we call on the Biden administration to issue a new designation of TPS for Nicaragua, considering the political repression of its people, which is forcing thousands to flee. 

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.

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