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The administration of President Joe Biden granted a temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are currently in the United States. Known as TPS, the new status would benefit at least 320,000 Venezuelans who sought refuge in the US from the Nicolás Maduro regime.
(In context: UNHCR celebrates that Colombia regularizes Venezuelan migrants in the country)
The measure only benefits nationals of this country who entered the United States before this March 8 and will cover them for a period of 18 months.
The law that governs TPS, which was approved by the US Congress several decades ago, does not establish a limit for its renewal once that period expires and leaves that decision in the hands of the administration in office. Historically, however, TPS is typically renewed on at least one occasion.
The decision was announced by two spokespersons for the Biden administration through a phone call with Washington journalists in which officials from the State Department and the White House participated.
(Also: How does a Venezuelan have regular immigration status in Colombia?)
Colombia had already made a similar decision several weeks ago, granting the possibility of obtaining a residence permit for the almost 2 million Venezuelans who live in our territory.
(You may be interested in: A judge postpones the start of George Floyd’s trial in the United States)
Can I access automatically?
Status is not automatic. In order to access the benefits, Venezuelans will have to make an application that costs US $ 50 and that will be used to conduct a criminal background check.
Likewise, they are required to submit a biometric test to establish your identity for a value of US $ 80 dollars and then apply for a work permit whose cost will be US $ 415. In total, the entire process will have an invoice of US $ 545, according to these officials.
With the decision, Not only does Biden deliver on one of his campaign promises, he stands in stark contrast to his predecessor, President Donald Trump. Despite the fact that the Republican leader assumed a heavy-handed policy against the Maduro regime, he never wanted to grant TPS to Venezuelans living in the United States.
(Do not stop reading: The diminished cult of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela)
One day before I left the White House, signed an executive order that stopped the deportation of Venezuelans for 18 months, but without this translating into a work permit or having the legal force that would grant temporary protected status.
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced that he is willing to speak with the United States in the Biden era, although there are still no approaches.
What about the US sanctions towards Venezuela?
During the press conference, officials also addressed the future of the sanctions currently weighing on Venezuela and that in their majority they were elevated by the previous republican administration.
According to these, they have no “desire whatsoever” to withdraw the sanctions but they did announce that they will be “reviewed” to determine their effectiveness. “What we do know is that four years of unilateral sanctions against Venezuela did not lead to a regime change or elections to be called,” said one of the officials.
According to the official, the sanctions and any future decisions made around them will be coordinated with other members of the international community. Part of the review, he argued, is aimed at prevent these from affecting the Venezuelan people as such and having more impact on weakening Maduro’s yoke on the country.
They also spoke of increasing the campaign of international pressure to close spaces for the dictator but without going into details about how it would differ from what has already been implemented in recent years.
SERGIO GÓMEZ MASERI
EL TIEMPO correspondent
Washington
A twitter @ sergom68
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