Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Crusade Costs Venezuelans Their Status—and America Its Economic Stability

Washington, D.C – The Trump administration has announced it will attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelans who applied for protection in 2023 despite ongoing instability and violence in their home country. Trump’s real motive is clear: his anti-immigrant agenda isn’t just about targeting immigrant families—it’s about reshaping the entire U.S. immigration system through cruelty and chaos, no matter the cost.

At the same time as he jeopardizes our communities and our economy with deportations, Trump is imposing sweeping tariffs on key trading partners—including a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico (since paused) and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump is failing to address the economy – the key issue that voters wanted him to address – and is instead focusing all his efforts on an anti-immigrant agenda.

In imposing tariffs, Trump is using the fentanyl crisis as the basis for his actions. But the facts tell a different story: Trump failed to address the fentanyl crisis in his first term, while Biden-era efforts increased seizures and reduced fatal overdoses by over 21% since June 2023. Not only is the majority of fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. by American citizens, Canada plays virtually no role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis, with only 43 pounds of fentanyl seized at the northern border in 2024 compared to more than 21,100 pounds at the southern border. 

Statement from Kerri Talbot, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub:

“Donald Trump’s attempt to revoke protections for 300,000 Venezuelans is as cruel as it is reckless—but we know he won’t stop here. His shock-and-awe approach to dismantling the immigration system is already devastating families and communities across the country, and we’re likely to see immigrants from Ukraine and Afghanistan targeted next. Families who have built their lives here—who work, contribute, and play by the rules—are under attack, being thrown into crisis overnight and forced from their homes. This isn’t about policy; it’s about inflicting harm at any cost.

The consequences will be far-reaching. Beyond the human toll, businesses will lose essential employees, industries from healthcare to food production will be destabilized, and American families will pay the price with rising costs and growing uncertainty. No one voted for this chaos. No one asked for higher prices, worker shortages, or militarized communities—all of which are direct results of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

Let’s be clear: immigrants are not pawns in Trump’s political games. They are our neighbors, coworkers, and community members. It’s time for federal lawmakers to stand up against this agenda, to protect immigrant families, and to fight for the stability and dignity that Trump is determined to erase. Trump has made it clear that he won’t stand up for our communities—so we must.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.