NYC Mayor urges Trump admin to restore TPS for Venezuelans amid earthquake crisis

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on the Trump administration to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, emphasizing the dangers of returning to their home country. Mamdani made the appeal during a visit to Lulla's, a Venezuelan restaurant in Brooklyn that has transformed into a major donation hub for earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela.

"We will continue to demand that the federal government redesignate TPS for Venezuela and restore humanitarian protections for those living in the U.S.," Mamdani stated in a press release. "After two major earthquakes and years of political instability, no honest person can argue that it is safe to return to Venezuela."

The mayor, accompanied by immigration officials, urged Washington to utilize all available humanitarian tools, including Deferred Enforced Departure and TPS. They noted that New Yorkers have shown significant support for the Venezuelan community, with numerous businesses and volunteers establishing 20 donation points across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The TPS designation protects eligible foreign nationals from deportation and grants them work authorization if their home countries face extraordinary temporary conditions, such as natural disasters or armed conflict, making their return unsafe. The Trump administration had previously terminated TPS for many countries as part of its stricter immigration policies. Approximately 250,000 Venezuelans lost their TPS protection in November, with another 350,000 set to lose it by October.

“

We will continue to demand that the federal government redesignate TPS for Venezuela and restore humanitarian protections for those living in the U.S. After two major earthquakes and years of political instability, no honest person can argue that it is safe to return to Venezuela.