HOUSTON – Carolina left Venezuela because life there had become unbearable.
“The services are almost non-existent,” she told KPRC 2. “Water is rationed. Electricity can go out for eight to 12 hours a day. And food is so expensive—even people with a profession can’t afford a basic trip to the market.”
After more than two years of living legally in Houston under the Temporary Protected Status program, Carolina is now afraid she could be sent back.
“I came here legally,” she said. “I’ve been doing everything right. But now I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Supreme Court clears way for TPS rollback
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with its plan to end TPS protections for Venezuelans who entered under the 2023 designation. Immigration attorneys say this could affect thousands in Houston, home to the third-largest Venezuelan population in the U.S.
Molly Full, an immigration attorney at Nayana Salem & Associates, says this decision has sweeping implications.
“The number of people affected is huge,” Full said. “This is one of the largest rollbacks of immigration protections in decades. And the motivation behind ending these protections appears to reflect anti-immigrant sentiment.”
Full clarified that while TPS granted under the 2021 designation is still technically active, the Supreme Court’s ruling signals that any protections could soon be revoked.
What is TPS?
TPS is a humanitarian protection granted to people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Venezuelans who qualified for the 2023 designation had to prove they were physically present in the U.S. by a certain date. TPS does not grant permanent legal status, but it does allow work authorization and protection from deportation.
Carolina says her entire family depends on her income.
“I work at a law firm now, in the contracts area,” she said. “My uncles are here too. Some are older and need medical care. If they send us back, who’s going to take care of them? How will we get medicine?”
She also had a message for those who stereotype Venezuelan immigrants.
“Not all Venezuelans are bad,” she said. “The majority of us come here to work, to help our families, to build a better life.”
Attorney: What TPS holders need to do now
Full urges Venezuelan TPS holders to take three immediate steps:
“First, talk to a licensed immigration attorney—not a notario,” she said. “There’s a lot of bad information online and in Facebook groups. You need real legal advice.”
“Second, if you haven’t already applied for asylum and you fear returning to Venezuela, do it now.”
“And third, stay out of legal trouble. We’re in a very aggressive enforcement environment, and even minor legal issues could put people at risk.”
READ MORE: Trump wants to end temporary protection for over a million immigrants. What does that mean?
Full added that people with asylum claims pending should not fear immediate deportation but warned that asylum is difficult to win.
“You have to prove that you were specifically persecuted. It’s not automatic.”
“Don’t feel alone”
Despite the fear, Full says there are trusted resources in Houston—from immigration attorneys to nonprofit legal services—who are ready to help.
“There’s a whole team of people fighting for you,” she said. “You are not alone.”
As for Carolina, she’s still attending English classes at Houston Community College and trying to stay hopeful.
“I haven’t finished my studies yet,” she said. “But I will continue.”
