Florida Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar expressed her delight on X about the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, claiming she had championed the cause and thanked the administration for "doing the right thing." However, the platform added context to her tweet, sharing a user's comment accusing the Republican politician of deliberately misleading the public. The user pointed out that the TPS extension resulted from a court order halting the Trump administration's attempt to terminate the program.
Salazar's tweet garnered 231.7k views, with numerous readers asserting that she played no role in the reinstatement of TPS for Venezuelans. X flagged the post due to the majority of user reactions. "Context information is written by people who use X and appears when others find it useful," the application clarifies.
Back in February, the Trump administration canceled TPS for Venezuelan migrants residing in the United States under this protective status, arguing that conditions in their home country had improved. "After evaluating the country's conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)," declared the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the time.
This decision was blocked by Federal District Judge Edward Chen of San Francisco, who labeled the TPS revocation as illegal and biased, emphasizing that it would cause irreparable harm to hundreds of thousands and adversely affect the U.S. economy. The judicial intervention not only keeps the TPS active but also automatically extends work permits until April 2, 2026, providing relief to approximately 350,000 Venezuelans facing deportation threats.
The TPS extension was a response to legal action, not a voluntary initiative by the Trump administration, contradicting the narrative presented by the Cuban-American congresswoman. This measure not only maintains TPS for Venezuela in effect but also automatically extends Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) issued under categories A12 or C19, which were set to expire between September 2022 and September 2025, now valid until April 2, 2026.
Additionally, the SAVE platform, used by public agencies to verify migrants' eligibility, will adhere to the official Federal Register notice of January 17, 2025, confirming this extension.
FAQs about TPS Extension for Venezuelans
What led to the extension of TPS for Venezuelans?
The extension of TPS for Venezuelans was due to a court order blocking the Trump administration's decision to revoke the program, not a voluntary action by the administration.
How many Venezuelans are affected by the TPS extension?
Approximately 350,000 Venezuelans benefit from the TPS extension, which prevents deportation and extends work permits until April 2, 2026.
What role did María Elvira Salazar play in the TPS extension?
Despite her claims, María Elvira Salazar did not play a role in the TPS extension; it was a result of judicial intervention against the Trump administration's revocation attempt.