For Immediate Release: January 6, 2026
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Hispanic Federation Calls on Administration to Protect Displaced Venezuelans
Washington, DC – Over this past weekend, the United States spearheaded a military operation that led to the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. The apparent end of Maduro’s reign has been greeted by many with concerns and celebrations, but what it means for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who came to the United States to flee oppression remains uncertain. Recently, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that these individuals (Venezuelans that were under TPS) have “the opportunity to apply for refugee status.” The meaning of Secretary Noem’s comment remains unclear, particularly in light of the fact that this statement is not substantiated by current DHS policy. Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, offered comments demanding the need for protections for Venezuelan immigrants in the face of geopolitical uncertainty:
“While the world watches the unfolding geopolitical systemic crisis in Venezuela, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States wonder what is next for them. First, they fled their native country to escape political instability, economic collapse, and state sponsored oppression. Afterward, they were subjected to months of fear and uncertainty after the Trump administration’s untimely, cruel, and destabilizing removal of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela, a decision that put thousands of families at risk of deportation. The revocation by the Administration last year was made due to alleged change in “country conditions” that made Venezuela safe for return by its nationals. Now, the Trump administration launches military operations targeting Venezuelan assets claiming catastrophic conditions in the country. These measures have only confirmed what Venezuelans in the United States have argued for years – that it is tragically unsafe for them to return to their native country, and that it would be an unfathomable cruelty to force them to do so.
Hispanic Federation demands that the Administration prioritize the safety of the many Venezuelans who have sought shelter in the United States. In turn, the Executive Branch must take steps to ensure that Venezuelans residing in the United States are not subjected to the cruelty of deportation. Venezuelans who sought refuge find themselves caught between mass deportation on the one hand and unresolved political and economic turmoil on the other. As such, we urge the federal government to make sure that Venezuelans in the U.S. can access relief from detention and deportation. Whether that relief takes the form of TPS reinstatement, the opening of asylum or refugee programs that include regulations to ensure their eligibility, or the creation of new programs and pathways, the effect must be the same – a guarantee that those who fled to the U.S. from Venezuela may continue to live here without fear while so much about their native country’s future remains uncertain.”
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
