President Trump's revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is causing widespread anxiety and fear among the Venezuelan community in Utah. Many are afraid to leave their homes, send their children to school, or even visit local shops. Community leaders are struggling to provide support and guidance as they navigate this uncertain time.
Many Venezuela n community leaders in Utah are expressing deep concern about the impact of President Trump 's immigration policies. Thayderson Jaimes, a 21-year-old who arrived in Utah in 2023 under President Biden's initiative to offer temporary refuge to Venezuela ns, is experiencing this fear firsthand. Jaimes, who fled Venezuela after participating in student protests, fears for his safety if he is forced to return.
He recounts being arrested, beaten, and threatened by Venezuelan police during a demonstration. 'If I go back to Venezuela, I could be imprisoned, arrested or killed,' he said. 'So, that is my great fear of returning to Venezuela, that they will take my life and that they will hurt my family.' Jaimes' situation is not unique. Community leaders estimate that 65% to 70% of Venezuelans living in Utah are protected under the temporary refuge initiative. Trump's recent orders dismantling Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that provides temporary refuge to citizens from nations in crisis, have cast a pall of fear and uncertainty over the Venezuelan community in Utah. President Trump's administration has issued a series of orders revoking TPS, a program that has shielded Venezuelans from deportation. This move has left thousands of Venezuelans vulnerable to being sent back to their homeland. While Jaimes is currently seeking asylum and not immediately facing deportation, the president's actions have created a sense of anxiety and insecurity. The fear is palpable within the community. Mariela Molina, a leader in the Venezuelan community and founder of the Foundation Capitán Zarigüeya, says that many families are now afraid to go out, send their children to school, or even visit local supermarkets. 'At this moment, we have families that are not sending their kids to school,' Molina said. 'We have families that don’t want to go to buy groceries. … They don’t want to go, especially those Latino supermarkets. They don’t want to even get close to those. They don’t want to go out.' Antonio Valbuena, who oversees the Bridges 21 Initiative, another prominent nonprofit organization supporting Venezuelan immigrants, echoes Molina's concerns. He reports that some community members are hesitant to seek medical care, fearing encounters with authorities. The psychological impact on young Venezuelans is particularly alarming. Antonio Guevara, a former high school teacher in Venezuela and a leader with Foundation Capitán Zarigüeya, says that children are expressing shame about their Venezuelan identity and reluctance to learn about their homeland. 'It scares us. Our community is very afraid and consequently our children,' Guevara said during an interview in Spanish. 'Seeing their parents worried is something that generates uncertainty, that generates worry, that generates fear, and, in many cases, they see how their parents or relatives have been deported, and they are left here in a somewhat worrying situation.' He added that some children have even confided in him that they are ashamed to be Venezuelan and don't want to learn anything about the country.Molina's organization is taking proactive steps to address the crisis. They have sent letters to the White House urging the reinstatement of TPS and are working with other groups to provide emergency legal aid and distribute information cards with advice on navigating the immigration system. Long-term, Molina envisions a more streamlined asylum process and a broader overhaul of the immigration system to ensure that those fleeing instability and persecution can obtain permanent status without enduring years of uncertainty. She, along with Guevara and Valbuena, also emphasizes the importance of educating both newcomers and lifelong citizens about the immigration process and American culture.
IMMIGRATION VENEZUELA TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TRUMP UTAH
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