This week, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of the 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela. The designation will officially end work authorization for all TPS recipients on April 6, 2025.
Status of Venezuela’s TPS Designation
Venezuela had been granted two TPS designations throughout the Biden administration.
One subset of Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. as of 2021 received TPS protection (the “2021 designation”), which expires in September 2025. Individuals under this designation that obtained employment authorization documents (EADs) will have their work authorization expire on March 10, 2025, unless an extension is granted.
A second TPS designation was made in 2023 (the “2023 designation”), which the outgoing Biden administration extended through October 2026. This designation is what the Trump administration has announced it is rescinding, meaning any Venezuelan nationals covered under this designation will lose TPS status, including their employment authorization, on April 6, 2025.
Thus, no Venezuelan national will be able to live in the U.S. under TPS protection as of September 10, 2025, and will not have employment authorization beyond April 6, 2025.
Further information on the two designations can be found at the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s website. The Venezuela announcement can be found in the Federal Register here.
What is TPS?
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
The Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to the following temporary conditions in the country:
- Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)
- An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic
- Other extraordinary and temporary conditions
During a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases (prima facie eligible):
- Are not removable from the United States
- Can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD)
- May be granted travel authorization
Current TPS Countries
The U.S. continues to provide TPS protection to some individuals from the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.
