A local advocacy group has joined a larger immigrant rights organization to file suit against the Trump administration’s removal of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan nationals in the U.S.
Make the Road New York, with hubs Bushwick and across the New York metro area, has called the status termination “unlawful” and “motivated at least in part by racial animus,” according to the complaint filed in federal court late last month.
TPS is a conditional, renewable program for people who cannot return to their country safely due to humanitarian emergencies.
The lawsuit, filed by Make the Road and national immigrant advocacy group CASA against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, hopes to reverse the termination the TPS designation for Venezuelans.
“The Trump administration’s decision to vacate and rescind Temporary Protective Status for Venezuela represents a major departure from our nation’s promise of equal protection,” said Harold Solis, co-legal director of Make the Road New York, in a statement.”At its core, the decision is racially motivated, as reflected by numerous statements from the president and his administration denigrating people from the country.”
The Homeland Secretary’s office announced that Venezuelan nationals’ TPS designation will be terminated on April 7th, 2025. The decision is expected to affect nearly 348,202 Venezuelans nationwide, leaving them at risk of deportation and losing legal work permits.
“This program was abused, exploited, and politicized,” Noem said in a social media post. “No more immigration schemes that make Americans less safe.”
Almost 8 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2013, according to UNHCR, and most have settled in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country is facing a wide-ranging humanitarian crisis including high inflation, gang violence, and shortages of food and medicines.
TPS Disruptions Continue
Changes to TPS designations have already rippled through the Brooklyn community, leading to mounting opposition from local officials.
New York City Council Member Farah Louis, local leaders, and members of the Haitian community gathered late last month to call on Congress to institute permanent protection for Haitian TPS holders.
“We will not remain silent while Haitian families in Brooklyn and beyond are threatened. The Trump Administration’s cruel decision to terminate TPS for Haitian nationals ignores Haiti’s dire reality and puts families who have built their lives here in jeopardy,” Louis said in a statement.
Brooklyn is home to one of the largest Haitian community in the U.S., especially in Flatbush, which has a long history of Haitians putting down roots and calling the neighborhood home.
The neighborhood of Little Haiti was recognized by the city in 2018, reflecting the community’s historical contribution and enduring legacy in Brooklyn.
Stephanie Delia, executive director of the Little Haiti BK Cultural and Business District, said at the press conference that she fears the termination will cast a dark shadow over the vibrant businesses and community members who “are the heartbeat” of Little Haiti.
“It is in these challenging times that our unity and determination shine brightest,” she said. “Together, we will navigate these uncertainties, support one another, and continue to enrich the cultural tapestry of our city.”
Late last month, the U.S Department of Homeland Security announced TPS for Haitian nationals would be terminated earlier than expected. The program’s new expiration date is Aug. 3, 2025, instead of Feb. 3, 2026.
“This Administration’s promise of mass deportations and revoking Haitians’ TPS status will have a devastating impact on the families in our community,” stated Flatbush Development Corporation executive director Robin Redmond. “This is not the American way.”
