Cancellation of TPS for Venezuela
Before President Biden left office, he extended TPS for Venezuelans for 18 more months, which would have allowed those with Venezuelan TPS to have status through October of 2026. However, as of January 30, 2025, the extension has been revoked, and it is effective immediately. For those with Venezuelan TPS, there was a group with designation in 2021, and a group in 2023.
Those who had TPS status since 2023 will have protections until April 2, and the government will have to decide by Saturday whether they want to extend this TPS. For those who have had TPS protections since 2021, they will have those until September 10, and the government will decide by July 12 whether they will extend that program.
There are 17 countries currently under TPS status. They are Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen.
General Information Regarding the Cancellation of TPS:
As a TPS holder, is my Employment Authorization Document (aka EAD, or “work permit”) still valid?
Yes. Your work permit will remain valid for as long as your TPS status remains in effect. If your TPS expires, but you still have time on your EAD, this does not mean that you still have status. Your status expires when TPS is cancelled. It is illegal for an employer to fire you (or refuse to hire you) based on your immigration status so long as your work permit remains valid. You also still have the right to renew your driver’s license.
Can I take other steps to protect myself?
Maybe. Immigration laws constantly change. If you have not recently consulted an immigration attorney, you should. In particular, if you are married to a U.S. citizen or have a U.S. citizen child over age 21, you may be able to adjust status to lawful permanent residence (i.e., to get a green card). You should consult an immigration lawyer to assess your options. An immigration attorney will also be able to address other concerns relating to your case in particular, including whether it could be beneficial to travel outside the country with an I-131 advance parole (if eligible).
What happens to a TPS beneficiary when a TPS designation ends?
TPS beneficiaries return to the immigration status that the person held prior to receiving TPS, unless that status has expired or the person has successfully acquired a new immigration status. TPS beneficiaries who entered the United States without inspection and who are not eligible for other immigration benefits, for example, would return to being undocumented at the end of a TPS designation and become subject to removal.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/trump-tps-venezuelan-immigrants.html
https://www.aclusocal.org/en/know-your-rights/whats-next-tps-holders (from when it was almost cancelled during the first Trump term)