The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday to allow the termination of Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for 350,000 Venezuelans living and working in the United States. Most of us might have a vague idea of what this means, but since Medical Teams has been working with Venezuelan refugees in Colombia since 2019, we thought we could help break down what this means and why it matters.

What Is TPS?

Temporary Protective Status is an immigration status that can be granted to people from specific countries who are experiencing natural disaster, armed conflict, or other extraordinary events. TPS provides temporary work permits and protection from deportation for people from TPS-eligible countries who apply and are accepted into the program. To be granted TPS status, applicants must show that they have never been convicted of a serious crime – in their home country nor the United States – including any single felony, any two misdemeanors, or anything that would bar them from seeking Asylum in the U.S.

How is TPS different from Refugee or Asylum status?

They are similar in that all three are immigration statuses granted to people fleeing their home country. However, TPS is typically granted for a temporary time based on the country the person is fleeing from, rather than on an individual’s specific circumstances. Refugees (those applying from overseas) and Asylum seekers (those applying after they arrived) must show that they are personally at risk in their home country based on a narrow set of conditions and are eligible to be granted long-term residency in the U.S. or even citizenship.

What happens if people lose TPS?

If TPS is revoked for Venezuelans or any other group of people within the U.S., they immediately lose their right to work and their protection from deportation.

What does TPS have to do with Medical Teams?

Several of the countries that Medical Teams works in are TPS-eligible, including Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ukraine. In addition, our team in Colombia works extensively with Venezuelans who have fled their country in search of safety and security.
All these places are experiencing crises that can make life challenging. Food, water, and safety can be hard to come by. Health care (when available) can be difficult to access. Making a living can be extremely tough.

This week, it was Venezuelans who lost their protected status, but there are reports that other countries may lose theirs in the coming weeks and months.

We don’t know what this will mean for people with TPS, but what we do know is that we are already in those countries, set up and equipped to help them if they find themselves back there. We’re ready to make sure they are healthy enough to start again, to keep going, and find a new way forward. Ready to help them be as safe as possible in uncertain circumstances.

Help us stay ready in the face of persistent funding cuts.

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