The government of the President of the United States, Joe Bien, granted this Monday the immigration protection Status of Temporary Protection (TPS, in English) to some 320,000 Venezuelans residing in their country, who, protected by that permit, will not be deported and will be able to work legally for the next 18 months.
These are some of the keys to what the granting of this immigration program means for Venezuelans in the United States
WHAT IS TPS?
The TPS was created by the United States Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990 to shelter people from countries that suffer an armed conflict, natural disasters or extraordinary and temporary conditions and its concession is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, in English), after consultation with the Foreign Ministry.
WHY HAS BIDEN GRANTED THIS PROTECTION TO VENEZUELANS?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the measure “is due to the extraordinary and temporary conditions existing in Venezuela, which prevent nationals from returning to their country safely.”
And he cites, among other reasons, “a complex humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread hunger and malnutrition, a growing influence and presence of non-state armed groups, repression and an infrastructure in poor condition.”
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, said in a statement that “it is in times of extraordinary and temporary circumstances like these that the United States steps forward to support eligible Venezuelan nationals, who are currently present in the United States, while their country of origin seeks to recover from the current crises ”.
WHAT WILL ITS VALIDITY BE?
The TPS for Venezuelans will be in effect for 18 months, from March 9, 2021 to September 9, 2022.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THIS AMPARO?
The TPS will benefit 323,000 Venezuelans.
ON WHAT DATE CAN APPLICATIONS BE SUBMITTED?
The Biden administration opened a 180-day registration period, which will begin on March 9, 2021 and end on September 5, 2021.
WHAT DO THE BENEFICIARIES RECEIVE?
People covered by TPS may request an employment authorization document (EAD) and a travel document.
WHICH ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
To be eligible, individuals must show that they have continuously resided in the United States as of March 8, 2021.
WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM TPS?
El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
DID TRUMP OFFER ANY SHELTER TO VENEZUELANS IN THE UNITED STATES?
Biden’s decision comes after his predecessor, Donald Trump, approved on January 19, in one of his last decisions in the White House, another protection for Venezuelans, the Deferred Mandatory Departure (DED), which he avoided deportation for 18 months and granted temporary work permits.
Unlike TPS, DED, which prevents the removal from the United States of nationals of countries affected by conflict, natural disasters, or exceptional conditions, is granted directly by the president and does not include travel permission.
Neither TPS nor DED grant residency to beneficiaries, as these are temporary protections.
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