Staff Reports
The Trump administration is taking a decisive step to rein in Joe Biden’s open-border policies by putting an end to the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelans who rushed into the country during Biden’s tenure. It was a classic case of the Biden administration rolling out the welcome mat, allowing unvetted Venezuelans to flood into the United States under the guise of humanitarian aid. In a particularly eyebrow-raising moment in September 2023, Biden extended work permits to more than 470,000 Venezuelans, showcasing an approach that has more in common with a free-for-all than a responsible immigration policy.
As a result of these overly generous policies, it’s estimated that approximately 600,000 Venezuelans have flooded into the U.S., leading to chaos that even the most hardened border agents would struggle to contain. In a last-minute attempt to maintain this loose grip on immigration, Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, under the now-infamous Alejandro Mayorkas, attempted to grant another 18-month extension for nearly a million migrants. However, Trump is not one to back down from a fight, skillfully retracting this misguided expansion and signaling it’s time for a reality check—complete with a two-month countdown for Venezuelan nationals to prepare for deportation.
Last Sept I testified before Congress on Venezuela’s horrible human rights situation. Now all is forgotten.
Trump now plans to deport 600k Vz back to the crisis they called unsustainable.
Biden extended #TPS thru Oct 2026 & now DHS #KristiNoem plans to roll it back. Hipocresía pic.twitter.com/cSgj9Dz3sd
— Enrique Roig (@enriqueroig) February 1, 2025
The urgency behind this decision has been magnified by the alarming rise in criminal activity linked to Venezuelan street gangs, such as Tren de Aragua, which have reportedly infiltrated communities all across America. While Biden may have preferred to overlook this growing menace, Trump took the necessary step to designate Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. This move speaks volumes about the stark difference between two administrations: one focused on security and the other on a misguided form of compassion that puts American citizens at risk.
In a somewhat comedic twist, the cancellation of TPS has set off a flurry of protests from leftist activists and lawyers. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, affiliated with the pro-illegal immigrant group American Immigration Council, expressed his intention to launch lawsuits against the Trump administration. However, this time they may encounter a tougher uphill battle than in previous years. Activists who once thrived in the ambiguous legal landscape created during Trump’s first term will now face more clearly defined precedents and a much earlier timeline that could work against them.
As the left stirs in outrage over this decision, one can’t help but chuckle at the irony of their claims that ending TPS puts an unfair burden on those unable to return home. It’s worth noting that, according to Trump, Venezuela has officially agreed to take back their own citizens—including those affiliated with gangs. The previous administration’s attempts at unconditional welcome have run their course. With the Trump administration ending TPS not only for Venezuelans but also for migrants from El Salvador and Haiti, the message is clear: the days of unchecked entry and amnesty are over.
