US says Venezuelans formerly under temporary protected status can apply for asylum

ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON

Venezuelans in the US who were previously under temporary protected status (TPS) are now eligible to apply for asylum, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“Every individual that was under TPS has the opportunity to apply for refugee status, and that evaluation will go forward,” Noem told the Fox News Sunday program.

Noem terminated TPS last year for about 600,000 Venezuelan migrants who had been granted protected status by the department under the former Biden administration.

The US is going to continue deporting "criminals to face consequences in their country," she said.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that US military action had resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores, also pledging to assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary.