MIAMI — Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans in the U.S. expires on Friday.
When the clock strikes midnight, hundreds of thousands will effectively become undocumented.
That includes one woman who’s dedicated her life to saving others. The South Florida nurse asked to remain anonymous but spoke to Local 10 News about her fears.
“To be honest, I’m afraid,” she said.
Her dream came true. Now she’s forced into the shadows.
“As soon as the TPS came in 2021, I decided to go back to school for my second bachelor’s ― this time in nursing," she said.
The Nova Southeastern University graduate has two jobs — working as a registered nurse at HCA Florida’s trauma and burn unit and in the intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
But Friday will be her last day. She’s one of about a quarter-million Venezuelans who will lose TPS.
“It’s still not safe to go back,” she said.
Venezuela is on the State Department’s “do not travel” list at level 4.
And the Trump administration describes the Venezuelan government as a dangerous narco state — fueling the President’s ongoing military offensive with deadly strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels at sea.
But DHS officials say they’re ending TPS — claiming Venezuela no longer meets the agency’s criteria.
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” the South Florida nurse said.
The 38-year-old is also paying her own way, getting her master’s in nursing at the University of Miami.
She said she wasn’t considering self-deporting and said she’s praying for a path forward on American soil.
“I really hoped President Trump would have done something for us,” she said when asked if she felt betrayed by President Donald Trump.
Asked if she supported Trump, she said, “I did support many things that he was going to do for the country.”
“Yes, I do feel a little betrayed,” she said.
Immigration attorney Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez told Local 10 News that he has been able to successfully change some immigrants’ status on a case-by-case basis.
“We have been able to change TPS recipients to F-1 student status or to a permanent marriage adjustment process and have even filed affirmative asylum applications for them, but it really depends on the specific person’s individual history and situation,” he said.
He said the government continues to encourage TPS recipients to self-deport using the CBP Home app.
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