With news that Florida Democrats were throwing their support behind a newly introduced DREAM Act, Florida Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart announced today that he and Darren Soto will be introducing a bipartisan amendment to said act.
In a press release, the Florida Republican announced that he and Soto “introduced legislation that would allow Venezuelan nationals to become eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.”
He further explained that, as an amendment to the DREAM Act, “this commonsense bill provides a solution to the many Venezuelans who currently reside in our country who fled a socialist dictatorship, and the oppression, hyperinflation, extreme shortages of food and medicine, and crime that the regime is responsible for.”
Diaz-Balart asserted his commitment “to continue working with Congressman Soto and our colleagues as this bill, and our amendment, are brought to the House floor for consideration.”
In recent weeks, tension in Venezuela has risen as the people are countries are calling for Nicolas Maduro to step down as President of the country. Many countries including the United States have recognized Juan Guaidó as the interim-President of Venezuela, and they have vowed to cooperate with him to the best of their abilities in order to ensure that the country is freed from Maduro’s communist dictatorship.
In turn, Florida lawmakers have moved swiftly in order to make sure that Venezuelans fleeing the country are safe.