Diaz-Balart Statement on TPS for Venezuelans
March 8, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C.–– Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration's announcement to designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.
"The Biden Administration's decision to provide TPS to Venezuelan nationals in Florida does not change the protections that were already provided to them under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) during the Trump Administration. However, the Biden Administration has indicated that Venezuelans in the United States should still apply for TPS in case it decides to let the DED protections for Venezuelans expire. Therefore, rather than Venezuelans automatically being protected by DED, as they were under the Trump Administration, they will need to apply for TPS and pay a fee, which was not required under DED.
"Two weeks ago,I askedthe Biden Administration for clarification on the status of DED for Venezuelans, particularly the procedures for obtaining work authorization. I look forward to receiving a response from the Administration with clear guidance on this issue. I will continue to work to ensure that Venezuelan nationals who have fled the brutal, oppressive Maduro regime are able to remain safely in the United States."
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