In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has reversed a key decision by former President Biden, scrapping protections for over 600,000 Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. This move could leave them vulnerable to deportation in the coming months.

Under Biden, the program known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was extended for 18 months, offering a safe haven and work permits to Venezuelans who couldn’t return home due to instability. But now, Trump’s administration has pulled the plug, arguing that the extension was rushed and unnecessary.

Kristi Noem, the current Secretary of Homeland Security, highlighted concerns about the timing of Biden’s last-minute decision, made just before he left office. Critics say this reversal is part of a broader crackdown on immigration, a recurring theme during Trump’s presidency.

TPS has long been a lifeline for migrants from countries facing crises like war or natural disasters. However, some Republicans argue the program has drifted from its original purpose, becoming a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix.

This decision echoes Trump’s previous attempts to end protections for migrants from countries like Haiti and El Salvador, though legal challenges blocked some of those efforts.

For now, the future remains uncertain for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who hoped to build lives in the U.S. without the fear of being sent back to a country still grappling with severe challenges.