Good news for undocumented Venezuelans in the United States.
Approximately 500,000 citizens from Venezuela who were in the United States until July 31, 2023, will be allowed to stay legally in the United States.
The decision was announced late in the evening on Wednesday, September 20, according to The New York Times.
Legal documents such as employment authorization cards, social security, among others, will be granted to these Venezuelan nationals.
This decision follows intense negotiations and pressures on the White House by New York Democrats. According to The New York Times, several meetings were held between the presidential couple and prominent Democrats from the state of New York, including Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Party in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Thanks to this measure, Venezuelans arriving in the United States before July 31 are eligible for a work permit valid for a period of 18 months, renewable.
This measure comes as a relief for New York authorities, where the majority of recent Venezuelan arrivals reside.
This decision by the Joe Biden administration will also reduce the waiting period for employment card applications. Beneficiaries are eligible for an employment card immediately, as reported by The New York Times.
Venezuelans arriving in the United States after July 31 will not be eligible for this program. They will be deported without any consideration, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who stated that this decision was made considering the conditions that prevent Venezuelan refugees from safely returning to their country.
In a joint statement, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries from New York welcomed this decision, calling it a step in the right direction. “As a result of this decision, immigrants will be temporarily allowed to work, fill necessary jobs, and support their families while awaiting an asylum determination,” they wrote, adding that “the decision will also significantly reduce the cost to New York taxpayers regarding the sheltering of asylum seekers.”
Over 250,000 Venezuelans had already benefited from a similar decision in 2021. A conditional release program had also been created for Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti. Several other countries, including Colombia and Ukraine, among others, have been added to the program.
No announcement has been made yet regarding undocumented immigrants from other countries, including Haiti.
While the Joe Biden administration adopts new protective measures for Venezuelans, it continues to deport undocumented Haitian immigrants despite chaotic security conditions in Haiti.
When questioned several weeks ago, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted that the Ariel Henry administration had signed a document agreeing to receive undocumented Haitians. This decision was criticized by the United Nations, which had called on the U.S. government to suspend deportations to Haiti due to the deteriorating situation in Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ country.
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Immigration: Nearly 500,000 Undocumented Venezuelans Allowed to Stay in the United States