Maria Eugenia Torres Ramirez, a Venezuelan political activist, sought asylum in the U.S. after facing threats from federal police in her home country. In 2021, she legally approached border agents in Del Rio, Texas, fearing for her life. Living in Los Angeles with her two children, she also secured Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as an additional legal safeguard.
However, her status became uncertain when the Trump administration moved to terminate TPS for many Venezuelans, leaving her vulnerable to deportation if her asylum claim were denied.
A key component of former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign was a tough stance on illegal immigration. However, his policies also severely restricted legal immigration pathways. Trump’s administration shut down a mobile app that facilitated legal entry, suspended refugee admissions, and halted humanitarian programs for migrants from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, and other crisis-affected nations. These measures curtailed the lifelines previously available to those seeking safety in the U.S.
Dismantling of TPS and Its Consequences
During his first presidency, Trump sought to end TPS for 95% of its beneficiaries, including individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, and other nations. Though court rulings delayed these terminations, President Joe Biden later reinstated and expanded protections.
However, after Biden’s departure, Trump rescinded those extensions, effectively ending TPS for 350,000 Venezuelans as of April 7, 2025, with another 250,000 facing uncertainty by September. Experts warn that the same justification for revoking Venezuela’s designation could be used against other TPS-designated countries.
Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Immigration Policies End Legal ProtectionsBiden expanded discretionary immigration protections, hoping to manage record-high illegal border crossings in 2023. Trump, however, ended parole programs that allowed migrants into the U.S. for humanitarian reasons.
His administration also revoked work permits granted through the CBP One app, a tool that had facilitated nearly 1 million legal entries since January 2023. Migrants who have not yet applied for asylum could now face rapid deportation without due process, further heightening fears within immigrant communities.
The End of Humanitarian Parole and Sponsorship Programs
Trump’s policies eliminated programs that permitted U.S. citizens to sponsor individuals from Ukraine, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti. Over 770,000 migrants who previously benefited from these processes now face an uncertain future. Afghan evacuees from the 2021 Kabul crisis are also at risk, as many remain in limbo without renewed legal status. Immigration advocates argue that these programs closely resemble visas and should not be considered pathways for illegal entry.
Trump’s administration indefinitely suspended the U.S. refugee admissions program, leaving thousands of pre-approved refugees stranded. The stringent vetting process, which includes interviews and security screenings, can take years. As a result, resettlement agencies lost federal funding, forcing them to halt services such as job placement and medical assistance. Organizations like Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries (FIRM) have been unable to support newly arrived refugees, exacerbating their struggles.
The U.S. undocumented immigrant population reached a record high of 13.7 million in mid-2023. Advocates warn that eliminating TPS and other legal avenues will likely increase this number. Many immigrants, unable or unwilling to leave, may remain in the country without legal status. This unintended consequence contradicts the goal of reducing unauthorized immigration, instead driving more people into precarious circumstances without protections or pathways to legal residency.