US Senators Ask Trump to Provide Venezuelans With Temporary Protected Status
US President Donald Trump should provide Venezuelans in the United States with immigration benefits that would allow them to stay in the country amid the ongoing crisis in the South American nation, a bipartisan group of US Senators said in a letter to the president
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th March, 2019) US President Donald Trump should provide Venezuelans in the United States with immigration benefits that would allow them to stay in the country amid the ongoing crisis in the South American nation, a bipartisan group of US Senators said in a letter to the president.
Venezuela is currently in the midst of a tumultuous political crisis that escalated in January when US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself to be the country's interim president. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called Guaido a puppet who is collaborating with the United States to forcefully overthrow the country's legitimate democratically-elected government.
"In the light of the ongoing violence, deterioration security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to ensure Venezuelan nationals currently present in the United States are not forced to return to Venezuela at this time," the senators said in Thursday's letter.
Under TPS, foreign nationals affected by armed conflict or natural disaster are allowed to live and work in the United States as their home country recovers. The designation can be granted to foreign nationals already in the United States, and can be renewed indefinitely for periods of up to 18 months.
"Venezuela clearly meets the standard for TPS as it is obviously too dangerous for Venezuelan nationals to return to their country." the senators said.
The United States, after recognizing Guaido, seized billions of Dollars' worth of Venezuela's oil assets and threatened to use military action against Maduro.
Russia, China, Turkey, Mexico, Bolivia and a number of other countries have reaffirmed their support for Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president. The United Nations also recognizes the Maduro government as Venezuela's legitimate authority.