600,000 Venezuelans face U.S. deportation after Maduro raid

""President Trump's decisive action to remove Maduro marks a turning point for Venezuelans. Now, they can return to the country they love and rebuild its future," said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokespersonMatthew Tragesser in a statement. Zoom in: A Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation in 2023 gave about 348,000 Venezuelans legal status and the opportunity for work permits. The Trump administration terminated that status in April."

"Between the lines: Venezuela is "more free today than it was yesterday," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday, the day after the Maduro raid became public. Noem said TPS holders can apply for "refugee status." But asylum isn't currently an option. A December policy memo from USCIS ordered a pause on all asylum applications. Venezuelans are also affected by the Trump administration's pause on all immigration decisions because Venezuela is on the travel ban list."

"The bottom line: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said Monday, after an unannounced ICE detention oversight visit, that there are now plans to ramp up deportation flights. "A supervisor told me that in light of the abduction of Nicolás Maduro this past weekend that the Department of Homeland Security is going to be taking another look at the possibility of deporting Venezuelans back to Venezuela," he said. Venezuela has been considered non-cooperative with deportation flights, accepting a limited number of deportees. Many deported Venezuelans had been sent to other countries, including Mexico, to facilitate faster removals."

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations that had protected hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and allowed work permits were terminated by the Trump administration. Many Venezuelans remain in the U.S. on visas or are eligible to apply for permanent status. Asylum processing is paused under a December USCIS memo, and Venezuela's presence on the travel ban list affects immigration decisions. Homeland Security officials suggested TPS holders could seek refugee status while other officials signaled that deportation flights may be increased. Venezuela has limited cooperation with deportation flights, and some deportees have been routed through third countries such as Mexico. USCIS did not provide clarification on procedural changes.

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