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By Dan Gooding and Jesus Mesa
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Venezuelans facing an uncertain future in the United States after the scrapping of a legal program allowing them to stay Wednesday have told Newsweek that they are not just afraid but panicked.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reversed a last-minute decision by the Biden administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for those from Venezuela through October 2026, leaving thousands open to potential deportation when their protections lapse this year.
"Honestly, the stress and anxiety are overwhelming, especially because I'm here with my wife and my 8-year-old daughter," Pablo, whose family was among the first Venezuelans to receive TPS, told Newsweek. "I try to stay strong because I can't show what I truly feel. I have to put on a brave face and stay optimistic."
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What Is Temporary Protected Status?
In recent years, many Venezuelans have either come to the United States or been allowed to stay through two main programs: humanitarian parole and TPS. The first allows immigrants to arrive in the country having already been vetted. The latter allows those already in the U.S. to apply for protection from deportation, along with work permits. Both programs are legal under different immigration laws.
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Around 16 countries affected by either continuing conflicts, political unrest, or climate disasters were on the TPS list during the Biden administration, but President Donald Trump promised he would look to curtail many of these, arguing that they were illegal and had allowed criminals to enter the U.S., such as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) does not approve TPS applications if migrants have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors or found inadmissible on other grounds, meaning gang members would not be approved.
Venezuelans Left In Limbo By Noem's Decision
Ines and Alejandro arrived in the U.S. in 2022 on humanitarian parole. When they could work, she looked after children, and he drove for Uber. When their status lapsed and they applied for TPS, they stopped working to follow the rules.
After several failed attempts, their application was accepted in November, but now it's unclear if it will be approved. Their daughter's TPS was approved but expires in a couple of months. The family, who say they cannot return to their home country, are left wondering what happens next.
"In some ways, we are used to sudden political changes because, in Venezuela, uncertainty was constant—policy shifts, economic fluctuations, currency devaluation, and insecurity. When we arrived here, we felt some relief and stability," Alejandro told Newsweek.
"We are panicked. Not just afraid—panicked—because we don't know what will happen to us. Without TPS approval, we legally cannot work."
Just before Inauguration Day, former Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended Venezuela's TPS designation through fall 2026. Wednesday's action by Noem undid this extension, resetting deadlines for two waves of the program.
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One group of Venezuelans benefited in 2021, while another round of applicants were able to join if they arrived before a certain date in 2023. The first was extended through summer 2025, while Noem must determine the 2023 group's status before Saturday, February 1.
"Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months they were going to extend this protection to people that were on Temporary Protected Status, which meant they were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months, and we stopped that," Noem told Fox News on Wednesday.
She said the Department of Homeland Security would evaluate all individuals in the country, "including the Venezuelans that are here and members of the TdA."
Ines, Alejandro, and Pablo, who feel they followed the rules to enter or stay in the U.S., are afraid that immigration enforcement will come for them at any moment.
"At work, my wife and I work at a school for children, and during meetings, we're told that the county protects us, that they won't allow agents to enter the school," Pablo said. "But you never really know. We already see what's happening but we don't know how much further it could go. At this point, nothing surprises us anymore."
Ines and Alejandro said they had become entirely reliant on their children. The couple explained that their son has a Green Card and is bearing the burden of caring for his family, who could be taken away.
"[We have] a lot of anxiety. We never thought it would be this intense," Ines said. "It's been nonstop news every day, and we've never experienced anything like this before."
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Both families do not believe they can return to Venezuela if deported. Pablo said his passport is expired, and without a Venezuelan Embassy in the U.S., he could not easily obtain one.
"So, if I were forced to leave the U.S., I couldn't even return directly to Venezuela. I would have to first travel to another country that has a Venezuelan Embassy, apply for a special permit within 72 hours, and only then could I go to Venezuela," he said. "Imagine the stress of knowing that if they tell me I have to leave, I have no idea how to do it."
Are Venezuelans Still Covered By TPS?
The DHS order signed by Noem on Wednesday states that USCIS will not accept any more reregistration applications from Venezuelans on TPS.
Any work permits, or other immigration forms issued with the October 2026 expiration have also been invalidated. The order said that anyone who applied under the extension in recent weeks will be refunded their application fee.
"This is an outrage! Venezuela is currently a violent dictatorship. Thousands have fled to Florida to join family members here through the TPS Program," Florida Democratic Party Representative Darren Soto wrote Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter. "They're helping our economy and part of our community. This will be a death sentence to many."
For now, those with valid work authorization and TPS status should be able to stay in the U.S. legally for up to six months. However, many of these designations expire this year, meaning the immigrants Newsweek spoke to could face removal.
"I walk with faith, praying. I know I'm legal, I carry my work permit with me, and I know when my documents expire," Pablo, who applied for a TPS extension just last week, said.
Alejandro told Newsweek that the family is just waiting, "waiting to see what we can do and how we can solve this," as the Trump administration rolls out its immigration policies, including increased action by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"We still have a lot to contribute to this country if we are given the opportunity," Ines said.
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