The Hispanic Federation (HF) urged the Donald Trump Government to restore the immigration protection of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the face of the humanitarian crisis caused by yesterday’s earthquakes in the Caribbean country.
The HF, one of the main Latino organizations in the United States, urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to redesignate TPS for Venezuela in the face of the risk that many will be deported to a country in the midst of a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the recent natural disaster.
It should be noted that the two earthquakes in Venezuela, of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, which occurred last Wednesday, have so far left 1,450 dead and at least 50,000 missing.
«Demanding their return to a country during a humanitarian catastrophe would be contrary to the spirit and intent of the law, our values as a nation, and would put thousands of lives at risk. “Venezuela continues to meet the standards required for the TPS designation, and the Administration must act,” he indicated.
TPS protects from deportation and grants work permits to foreigners who cannot return to their countries safely due to an emergency, such as war or a natural disaster, but the Trump administration has eliminated it for many countries as part of its tough immigration policy.
Of the 600,000 Venezuelans protected by TPS, 250,000 lost their protection last November and the other 350,000 will have their protection expire next October.
The HF claimed that the situation in Venezuela before the earthquakes was already “sufficient” to qualify for TPS after “years of political instability, economic collapse and oppression promoted by the state,” and now “a tragedy is added to the humanitarian crisis and needs immediate action.”
“TPS exists precisely for times like this,” the group said, noting that the US government has the “legal authority and humanitarian obligation to protect foreigners from forced return to countries experiencing extraordinary circumstances.”
The HF said it was ready to work with DHS and called on its secretary, Markwayne Mullin, to act quickly and “ensure the right outcome for Venezuelan families in these devastating times.”
The US sends hundreds of troops and equipment to Venezuela
The United States reinforced its military deployment in Venezuela to support the response efforts to the earthquakes that shook the country by sending more than 200 military personnel, helicopters and planes.
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM, in English) reported in a statement that among the troops deployed are nearly 100 members of the air force, specialized in airfield management, to help the Venezuelan Government safely expand the arrival and departure of flights from the Simón Bolívar International Airport, the main air terminal serving Carcas, which suffered heavy damage after the earthquakes and is partially operating.
In the next 24 hours, some 130 marines will also arrive at the port of La Guaira, which was out of service after the earthquake. In coordination with the Venezuelan authorities, the US military will work to “reopen the port terminal” and facilitate the arrival by sea of humanitarian aid and equipment to the most affected areas, according to the statement.
In turn, several US military helicopters have already transported State Department personnel to direct Washington’s disaster relief mission.
SOUTHCOM also indicated that the US Space Force is providing satellite images of affected communities and damaged infrastructure to help rescue teams “assess where assistance is most urgently needed.”
Venezuela has received more than 1,600 rescuers to care for the victims of the earthquakes, as reported this Saturday by the Venezuelan vice minister for Europe and North America, Oliver Blanco.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that the US promised to allocate $150 million in humanitarian aid to Venezuela: specifically, $100 million for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Venezuela and $50 million for organizations operating on the ground.
Washington has also already sent military equipment and two search and rescue brigades from the Fairfax County (Virginia) and Los Angeles (California) fire departments, which are working to search and rescue survivors of the two earthquakes that have left thousands dead, injured and missing.
