Kristi Noem Defends DHS Decision on Venezuelan Protections with Focus on Immigration Policy
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Trump administration’s decision to roll back Biden-era deportation protections for Venezuelans, putting the status of some Venezuelan immigrants in limbo as early as April.
“This program has been in place for years,” Noem said on “CNN News Central” on Wednesday. “We’re going to make sure that it’s used properly.”
Temporary Protected Status is one of the big levers the president has to control immigration, which effectively shields immigrants from designated countries from deportations and issues work authorizations, but does not provide a path to permanent status.
The Status of Venezuelan Immigrants
The status was first extended to Venezuelans in 2021 and redesignated in 2023 by then-Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, following intense political turmoil and a mass exodus from the country. But the new extension, an 11th hour move by Mayorkas just days before the end of the Biden administration, would have allowed Venezuelans to stay on TPS until late 2026.
Now, the revoking of the extension sets up the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who received TPS to lose status starting in April, which could open them up to eventual deportation.
Mayorkas’ actions tied her hands, Noem told “Fox and Friends” earlier on Wednesday, saying the extension meant Venezuelan immigrants “were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months.”
Trump Administration’s Stance on Venezuelan Immigration
Venezuelan immigrants have been a flashpoint for Trump since before he won a second term. On the campaign trail, Trump railed against the programs that admitted Venezuelans and other immigrants temporarily, believing them to be an abuse of the system.
The Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump first referenced with Aurora, Colorado, last summer, has been a key target of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids this week.
“The people of this country want these dirtbags out,” Noem said of the gang on “Fox and Friends” Wednesday morning.
Rollback of Biden-Era Initiatives
The Trump administration has also rolled back other key Biden-era initiatives including the CHNV program, which allowed U.S. citizens to sponsor Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and also Venezuelan immigrants for up to two years; and the CBP One app, which facilitated asylum processing at the border; and ordered a pause on all refugee admissions through the refugee resettlement program.
The status for Venezuelans is being evaluated by the president, Noem said — while still leaving the door open for the program in the future.
“We know that it has been abused in the past, and that there’s many people from other countries that are affected as well,” Noem said, “We’re going to make sure that we fix it so that it’s utilized in the right way.”
