U.S. Senators urge Biden to extend Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans

Twenty-two U.S. senators urged Joe Biden's administration on Friday to extend an immigration permit known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows people to work and reside legally in the country.

TPS, which the United States grants to migrants from countries affected by war, epidemics, or natural disasters, will expire for Venezuelans on September 9.

Democratic Party senators argued that TPS for Venezuelans in the United States should be extended because the regime of Nicolás Maduro continues to perpetrate crimes against humanity and because of the growing crisis in Venezuela. 

"Maduro's regime has continued to perpetuate crimes against humanity, turned a blind eye to the forced recruitment of children, generated an increase in the number of refugees and displaced persons, exacerbated food insecurity, and limited access to water, medical care and humanitarian assistance," they said in a statement.

"More than 323,000 Venezuelans living in the United States are eligible for TPS under the current designation. The new designation would protect an additional 250,000 Venezuelans who have arrived in the U.S. since March 2021," the text states. 

The Biden Administration approved TPS for Venezuela in March 2021. Since then, Venezuelans who were already living in the United States irregularly were able to access work permits and live without fear of deportation.

As of May 5 of this year, 76,450 Venezuelans have gained access to this migratory permit, the senators state in their petition.