During his second term in office, President Donald Trump’s administration made a significant and contentious decision to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals living in the United States. 

The TPS had initially been granted to protect Venezuelans from deportation due to the severe political, economic, and social crises in their home country. In 2019, the Trump administration had already faced significant backlash when it initially implemented the end of TPS for Venezuelans, but it wasn’t until later in his second term that this decision moved closer to full implementation. The move affected hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who were left in a state of uncertainty regarding their future in the U.S.

The decision drew criticism from a range of human rights organizations, immigration advocates, and lawmakers. Critics argued that sending Venezuelans back to their home country—still grappling with widespread violence, poverty, and political instability—would put these individuals at extreme risk.

This action was part of the broader immigration policy agenda under the Trump administration, which focused on limiting both legal and illegal immigration into the United States. The end of TPS for Venezuelans added to a larger conversation about the U.S. role in offering refuge to people fleeing crises, and the debate continues as to how the U.S. should handle the complex realities of immigration.