Congressmen and women say support for Venezuelan immigrants is a blow to Maduro
Congressmen from both parties applauded Monday the granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan immigrants announced by Democrat Joe Biden's government, considering it a "blow" to the "dictatorship" of Nicolás Maduro and support for its "victims".
"By supporting the Venezuelan people, we are dealing a major blow to the Maduro regime, which for years has deprived its own people of education, health care, basic freedoms and even a plate of food," said Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who said he would "support the Venezuelan people".
The Biden administration announced Monday that it plans to grant some 320,000 Venezuelans already in the country the immigration permit known as TPS that will allow them to work and reside legally.
"Thanks to today's actions, more than 300,000 Venezuelan women, men and children will be protected from deportation and will no longer have to live in fear of being returned to the humanitarian catastrophe of the Maduro regime," Menendez said in a statement.
For his part, Republican Senator Marco Rubio supported the decision, noting that "Venezuela remains a nation in crisis".
"It is critical that we continue to work with our democratic allies to secure a Venezuela free of tyranny and ensure that this temporary status in the United States does not become permanent," the Cuban-American senator added.
For her part, Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar also welcomed the news, noting that it will benefit the "victims" of the "dictator" Maduro.
In the same vein, Republican Congressman Carlos Giménez, former mayor of Miami-Dade, said that "countless Venezuelans have found a home in the United States where they can express themselves freely without fear of political reprisals".
"Maduro's corrupt regime has devastated Venezuela, creating dire economic and humanitarian conditions that have made the country unsafe and uninhabitable for millions of people," said Democrat Ted Deutch.
The Florida congressman added that downstate "we have welcomed many of these Venezuelans into our community and offered them refuge from the worsening situation at home".
Established in 1990, TPS is a temporary, renewable programme that provides protection from deportation and the opportunity to apply for a work permit for foreign nationals from certain countries who cannot safely return to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions.
Biden's immigration relief, which will be valid for 18 months but could be extended, will be available to Venezuelans who are already in the country as of today, 8 March 2021.
