Latino Republicans in Florida Are Scrambling To Protect Venezuelans From Imminent Deportation

The Trump administration's recent decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans has sparked opposition from Republican lawmakers in South Florida, who argue that the move could negatively impact their communities.

South Florida Republican Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Gimenez have been lobbying the administration to reconsider the decision, the first tranche of which goes into effect in early April, Politico reported.

The lawmakers contend that Venezuelans under TPS are not the criminals making headlines but rather people fleeing an oppressive regime. The representatives have been in discussions with administration officials, hoping to secure a policy shift before the protections expire.

The decision reflects a broader conflict between Trump's immigration crackdown and political support among Miami's Latino communities, particularly among Venezuelans. Trump has consistently denounced Venezuelan authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro and supported the Venezuelan opposition, but the revocation of TPS marks a shift from his first administration, during which he granted Venezuelans Deferred Enforced Departure status on his last day in office.

The Department of Homeland Security justified the move by arguing that conditions in Venezuela have improved enough for immigrants to return. Diaz-Balart strongly disagrees with that assessment, calling it inaccurate and insisting that Venezuela remains under the same dictatorship. Former President Joe Biden had extended TPS protections for Venezuelans in 2023, but Trump's administration is now following through on his campaign stance that TPS has been overused.

The issue has put South Florida Republicans in a difficult position. While they support Trump's broader immigration agenda, they argue that Venezuelan migrants deserve consideration. Diaz-Balart has suggested expedited case-by-case reviews.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a key ally of the Miami Republicans, has also supported efforts to protect Venezuelans. However, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have declined to comment on whether the administration might reconsider the decision.

Many Venezuelans in the area say they feel betrayed after voting for Trump. Doral, where a third of all residents are Venezuelans, has been particularly affected. "You can feel the fear," said Daniel Oropeza, a Temporary Protected Status holder whose entire family is facing the possibility of deportation, in an interview with CNN.

Officials in Doral also worry of the economic consequences massively deporting its Venezuelan community may bring. Maureen Porras, the Doral vice-mayor who recently left the Democratic Party to become a Republican, said that the city's economy would grind to a halt if local TPS holders were deported.

Because TPS comes with employment authorization, many businesses in Doral are dependent on Venezuelan employees who are set to lose their legal status in weeks or months. Other TPS holders have started their own businesses and stores.

Salazar has proposed legislation to provide permanent legal status to some Venezuelans, including a revival of the Dignity Act, which pairs border security measures with residency opportunities.

Despite everything, the Miami Republicans remain hopeful that Trump will alter the policy before the deadline. Salazar expressed confidence that a resolution will be reached, urging Venezuelan TPS recipients not to panic. "Do not be scared yet, because chances are we're going to be able to find a solution," she said.