Miami, Florida – Venezuelan migrants in South Florida express feelings of betrayal following the Trump administration’s decision to terminate legal protections for hundreds of thousands who sought refuge in the U.S. from oppressive regimes.

New regulations set to be published this week will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelans in early April, with another group of 250,000 facing the likelihood of losing their protections. This move contradicts a U.S. policy that has provided TPS to over half a million Venezuelans.

The decision by the Trump administration, as stated by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is based on the belief that Venezuela exploited the TPS designation. Venezuelans, who began migrating to the U.S. in large numbers in the 1980s, fled the political and economic turmoil under Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.

Nearly 400,000 Venezuelan exiles currently reside in Florida, with many feeling blindsided and let down by the administration’s decision. Adelys Ferro, director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, emphasizes the importance of TPS in providing legal status, work permits, and stability to Venezuelan immigrants.

The impending policy change has sparked fear and anxiety among TPS recipients in Doral, Florida, the state’s largest Venezuelan community. Activists in the area voice concerns about potential deportations and the impact on their lives and livelihoods.

Venezuelan-Americans in the region, who played a crucial role in Trump’s victory in Miami-Dade County, express a sense of betrayal and disappointment over the decision. They feel misled by promises made during the campaign that legal immigrants would not be affected by immigration policies.

The removal of TPS for Venezuelans is not only troubling for those directly impacted but also raises concerns for individuals from other countries, like Haiti. The broad implications of this decision highlight the uncertainty faced by many immigrant communities in the U.S.

As negotiations between the U.S. and the Maduro regime continue, Venezuelan-Americans question the alignment of Republican members of Congress with the administration’s stance on Venezuela. Concerns are raised about potential concessions made in exchange for diplomatic agreements and the perception of endorsing authoritarian regimes.

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, representing Doral, opposes the removal of TPS for Venezuelans and advocates for a more nuanced approach to asylum, emphasizing the need for individual considerations in granting protection.