Biden offers temporary protected status to some 320,000 Venezuelans in the United States

The Joe Biden Administration announced on Monday that it will guarantee Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan citizens who are in the United States, which will allow them to continue to reside in the country legally and work.

Biden thus complies with a constant demand from opponents of the Nicolás Maduro regime, who found in the previous president, the Republican Donald Trump, an ally in terms of pressure on Maduro, based on sanctions and heavy-handed messages, but not receptive ears regarding the situation of citizens fleeing poverty and instability in the Caribbean country.

The program, according to government sources, will benefit some 320,000 citizens who are already on US soil, but exclude those who plan to arrive from now on.

In his last days in office, Trump did pass an order to suspend the deportation of Venezuelans for 18 months, which, for practical purposes, also allows them to continue residing, but keeps them in administrative limbo.

Administration officials indicated this Monday that Trump's dispensation will remain in force and, therefore, it is the choice of Venezuelan citizens to apply for TPS.

To do so, those interested must complete the procedure within a maximum period of 180 days and pay a total fee of $ 545.

More than 700,000 Venezuelans have left the country since the end of 2019 and 2020 wiped out a community of 5.3 million abroad.

If the calculation starts with 2015, the first year of mass exodus, the magnitude is very similar to that of the number of Syrian refugees in 2016 (5.5 million), five years after the beginning of the Syrian crisis, according to a Brookings report. Institution, one of the most reputable think tanks in the United States.

Biden arrived at the White House at a time of change for Venezuela, a few days after the change of a third of the European Union with respect to the country.

The European allies withdrew Juan Guaidó his recognition as president in charge (interim) of the country after the elections of the National Assembly last December, since Guaidó's constitutional legitimacy came from his presidency of said legislative Chamber and control of this changed hands .

The United States maintains its consideration of Guaidó, but Washington's strategy will not follow the same line as that of Donald Trump.

The TPS is a first sign of change, as well as its interest in coordinating the sanctions strategy with allies in Europe and Latin America.

“There is no hurry to lift the penalties,” an Administration official said during a call to the press on Monday, although, he added, “it must be recognized that unilateral sanctions have not worked to get free elections to be called. and fair ”.

Once that happens, he stressed, that is when the United States will be willing to ease the penalties imposed by the previous Administration.