Congressional Hispanic Caucus Statement on Venezuela TPS Designation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, until September 2022. The move comes as Venezuela’s living conditions have revealed a country in turmoil. The designation would provide Venezuelan nationals—who can demonstrate continuous residence—protection from deportation and an opportunity to apply for work authorization. Individuals desiring TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within a 180-day registration period. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus applauds the Biden Administration’s designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. The welcomed announcement will help provide much-needed humanitarian relief and opportunity for approximately 200,000 Venezuelan nationals currently residing in the U.S.,” said Chairman Ruiz. “The brutal Maduro regime has launched Venezuela into a full-fledged humanitarian crisis, resulting in widespread hunger, malnutrition, and violence from non-state armed groups. The TPS designation will allow hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants to apply for work authorization, providing them an opportunity to contribute to our society more fully, which will in turn help stabilize our workforce and benefit our economy. I’d like to thank CHC Members Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) for their leadership in addressing this issue and for continuing to fight for relief for Venezuelan immigrants.”

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.