The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had attempted to revoke protection for beneficiaries since the beginning of the year, but an ongoing legal process kept the humanitarian measure in effect.📸 Photo: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Guacamaya, September 4, 2025. The United States government has announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Venezuelans designated under the 2021 provision. The decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affects more than 250,000 Venezuelan nationals whose protection will expire on September 10.
The benefit, which allows citizens from countries facing extraordinary conditions to legally reside and work in the U.S., was first granted to Venezuelans in 2021 following a mass migration driven by the country’s deep political, economic, and social crisis. The protection was extended in 2023 for an additional 18 months.
However, joint assessments by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department concluded that conditions in Venezuela no longer justify the program’s continuation. Despite rising tensions with Venezuela due to military escalation off its coasts in the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. cites public safety concerns as grounds for revoking the protection.
In a statement, Matthew Tragesser, spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency under DHS, said: “Maintaining or expanding TPS for Venezuelan nationals directly undermines the Trump administration’s efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively.”
According to various sources, an estimated 256,000 to 268,000 Venezuelans will be left in migratory limbo, impacting not only families but also the communities and local economies where they reside. Starting September 10, beneficiaries will lose their legal immigration status and work permits.
Prior to the final cancellation of the TPS designation granted in 2021 and extended in 2023, a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to the program’s termination in March, arguing the decision was arbitrary and harmful. The ruling also protected approximately 350,000 additional Venezuelans who received TPS in 2023 and whose protection was extended until 2026.
Despite that ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to grant the Trump administration permission to proceed with ending TPS for Venezuelans. However, last week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to keep protections in place while the federal district judge in San Francisco reconsiders the case.
The Department of Homeland Security is offering a voluntary departure program that includes airfare and a stipend, as well as potential future legal migration opportunities for those who choose to return to Venezuela. Nonetheless, the decision has sparked uncertainty and undeniable social impact for thousands of families fearing deportation and the loss of stability in the U.S.
