Florida Congressmen Want TPS Extension for Venezuelans

A bipartisan effort has been launched by two Florida congressmen, Democrat Darren Soto and Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, to ensure that Venezuelans fleeing the Maduro regime are eligible for Temporary Protected Status.

The Venezuela TPS Act was unveiled late last week, and both congressmen shared their thoughts on why it’s important for the United States to provide this assistance to people fleeing the communist regime.

Soto blasted President Maduro for bringing “suffering and despair to the people of Venezuela.” “During Maduro’s tyrannical rule, Venezuela’s economy has deteriorated at alarming rates, causing a scarcity of basic foods and medicine in the country. The whole world has witnessed Maduro’s blatant disregard for human rights, including arbitrary arrests, media censorship, imprisonments of the opposition, and the use of lethal force against peaceful protestors. For these reasons, Venezuela should be added as a country designated for TPS as a way to help protect our brothers and sisters escaping Maduro’s terror. I thank my colleague Rep. Diaz-Balart for joining this bipartisan effort to assist the millions of Venezuelans who now call Florida home,” Soto assured.

Congressman Diaz-Balart echoed in his remarks, adding that “hyperinflation, drastic shortages, and egregious human rights abuses have forced many Venezuelans into exile, and the conditions in Venezuela remain too perilous for them to return. Political opposition leaders are imprisoned, and some have died under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, Maduro’s thugs abduct, detail, and imprison protesters, while his state police and intelligence services use violence, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests to silence them. I am grateful to be able to provide a solution to so many who are escaping Maduro’s totalitarian regime… we must not force Venezuelans who have sought safety in the United States to return to such dangerous conditions.”

This effort comes after Senator Marco Rubio introduced a similar proposal Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelas fleeing Maduro's regime.