Groups of activists in favor of immigrants asked this Tuesday that the Joe Biden government give a new designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In a joint press conference held in Doral, members of the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), the Venezuelan American Caucus; of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and other spokespersons, along with former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel Powell, advocated for the measure.
“The power to designate, redesignate or extend TPS is firmly within the ability of the executive branch, which means that it rests at the complete discretion of the Biden Administration,” they explained in a statement.
They assure that a redesignation of TPS would protect Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who do not currently have a regulated immigration status from deportation.
According to the call made by the organizations, “the political, social and humanitarian crisis that has existed in Venezuela for decades has deepened in recent years and has pushed thousands of Venezuelans to leave their homes to emigrate to other countries in search of of peace, freedom, democracy and opportunities”.
Additionally, “in Nicaragua, since March 2023 the world has recognized that crimes against humanity have happened and continue to happen since 2018.”
In the opinion of the immigrant groups, “granting TPS to Venezuelans and Nicaraguans who are already in the United States will not only provide stability for them and their families, but will also help the nation’s economic system.”
A group of 26 Democratic senators urged the Biden administration in July to redesignate TPS for immigrants from Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The senators, headed by the head of the Democratic caucus Chuck Schumer, sent a letter on Tuesday to the secretaries of State, Antony Blinken, and Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in which they urged the government to make the new designation given “the extraordinary humanitarian crises in this countries”.
Venezuela was designated for TPS in March 2021 and the decision must be made by the Secretary of Homeland Security by March 3, 2024, when the current designation expires.
For its part, Nicaragua has been on the list since January 1999. Secretary Mayorkas rescinded the termination of Nicaragua’s designation and extended TPS for 18 months, from January 6, 2024 to July 5, 2025.
The government, after reviewing the conditions in each country, may extend the designation for periods of 6, 12, or 18 months at least 60 days before the TPS designation expires.
