US expedites issuing of work permissions to half a million Venezuelans

The Biden administration has introduced new rules allowing Venezuelans who are seeking asylum in the United States and already residing in the country to obtain legal work authorization.

As reported by the New York Times, approximately 472,000 individuals will be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a duration of 18 months.

This decision comes in response to calls from Democrats to expand work opportunities for recently arrived migrants.

The United States has been dealing with a significant influx of people fleeing the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, and many cities in the US have been grappling with the challenges posed by this situation.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that the extension of protected status to Venezuelans is justified due to the escalating instability and safety concerns in Venezuela. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explained that this protection will be available to Venezuelans who arrived in the US on or before July 31 of the current year. Those who arrived after that date and lack a legal basis to stay will face potential removal.

New York, in particular, has been facing difficulties in providing shelter and support to tens of thousands of migrants, a significant number of whom are from Venezuela. These migrants have been housed in more than 200 hotels, shelters, tent cities, and other facilities across the state.