Venezuelan advocacy groups, immigration organizations and community leaders gathered on Feb. 7 at the Simón Bolívar Memorial in Washington, D.C., to denounce the Trump administration’s decision to cancel Temporary Protected Status. Speakers such as Carla Bustillos from the Venezuelan American Caucus (VAC), Abel Nuñez from the Central American Resource Center and Monica Gray from the YWCA’s National Capital Area chapter highlighted the severe consequences of this policy change.
“If they’re deported, arrested and deported, then that would be a very dark scenario, because we understand it would be a victory to the Maduro regime,” said Bustillos. “For smaller reasons than leaving, people have been in prison.”
Advocates at the conference pushed back against claims linking Venezuelan TPS holders to criminal groups like Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan-based criminal organization.
“No TPS recipients have been linked to Tren De Aragua,” said Bustillos. “None of the recipients were arrested by the authorities as Tren De Aragua.”
According to a memo from the Department of Homeland Security, “ . . . Tren de Aragua’s campaign of violence and terror poses threats to the United States.” The gang is known for its sex trafficking and drug crimes, and is on U.S.’s sanctioned list of transnational criminal organizations.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem contends the program’s termination will protect the national interest, including “foreign policy, public safety, national security, migration factors, immigration policy and economic considerations.” The administration also argues that conditions in Venezuela have “notably improved” in areas such as the economy, public health and crime, making it safer for nationals to return.
Advocates strongly refuted these claims, urging Congress to take immediate action to protect those facing uncertainty. They emphasize the economic contributions of immigrants and the dangers of returning to an unstable regime.
“Latinos in this country contribute $3.6 billion to the economy every year,” said Bustillos. “The whole wave of persecution that our people are facing is … very dangerous to democracy.”
Nuñez echoed concerns over the administration’s decision, saying, “By rejecting TPS, we are rejecting the values of this nation.”
Community organizations, including Amnesty International USA, noted they would continue fighting for legal pathways and support networks to assist TPS recipients.
