OPINION | TPS for Venezuelans is not enough | CNN

Editor's note:

David Bittan Obadia is a lawyer, writer, political and international analyst, columnist for the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal, and a contributor to other media.

As a lecturer, he participated in the World Jewish Congress and was president of the Jewish community of Venezuela.

His Twitter account is @davidbittano.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author alone.

You can read more articles like this at cnne.com/opinion.

(CNN Spanish) -

The administration of President Joe Biden approved Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Venezuelans.

I have defended some of the policies of former President Donald Trump;

the economic issue, above all, and also part of its international strategy.

However, on the immigration side, its policy was really deficient.

LOOK: Tips not to miss the opportunity of US TPS to Venezuelans

Giving migration a “linear” treatment, that is, closing borders to all types of migrants and implementing obstacles in migration processes, generates a setback in countries from every point of view.

We cannot equate a person who, with a criminal record, intends to enter the United States, with another who has a special ability, a talent or those who apply for an investment visa and will produce jobs.

However, for Mr. Trump they were all the same.

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The former president generated many expectations for Venezuelans, the same ones that he never fulfilled, leaving all kinds of "options" open in the case of Venezuela.

Some thought that the Navy would come to that country to save them.

But something like that, in a world like today, is just a dream.

Even more so when it is known that today there are interests of Russians, Chinese, Cubans and Iranians, among others, and that makes the real possibility of military options practically nil.

A few minutes before his departure from the government, Trump signed a memorandum postponing the deportation of any Venezuelan for 18 months, an order that was not carried out by President Biden.

The new administration went further and, fulfilling its electoral promise at the appointed time, on March 8, it signed the long-awaited TPS for Venezuelan immigrants.

It is estimated that some 300,000 people will be able to benefit from it.

In reality, Venezuelan immigration to the United States has been of quality.

It is known that great Venezuelan talents occupy positions of great importance in all areas of development.

However, the TPS does not solve in the medium term the real problem for a group that has suffered greatly and sacrificed, which really, from my point of view, deserves better treatment.

Hopefully the government of President Biden will find a formula to give legal and definitive residence to so many people who have been forced, due to different circumstances, to abandon their homeland, leaving behind their memories, families and assets, many of them have been subjected to persecution. policies.

And, why not, that this model is extended and shelters the thousands of people of other nationalities who are in an irregular migratory situation in the United States, but actively contribute to the development of the country.

When leaving their country, the immigrant becomes a foreigner for the rest of his days, unfortunately, and the migratory obstacles amplify the suffering.