US President Joe Biden has granted temporary protection status to tens of thousands of Venezuelans in the United States, a senior US official said Monday (March 8).
This "temporary protection status" (TPS), which protects against expulsion and grants a right to work, could affect a total of more than 300,000 Venezuelans, the same source said.
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This decision was a campaign promise from the Democratic candidate, who had deplored Donald Trump's attitude on this issue.
"Venezuelans have no guarantee of safety if they return home
,
"
said the American official.
This special protection will only apply to people present in the United States on March 8, 2021.
"If you arrive tomorrow, or after, you will not be able to benefit from it"
, warned this official.
Despite his hard line against Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump has always refused to extend this status to Venezuelans, because of his anti-immigration policy.
Like Donald Trump before him, Joe Biden considers the opponent Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela and does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as legitimate president.
For three years, the United States has stepped up diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions to oust him from power.
Without success.