Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto and South Florida Congresswomen María Elvira Salazar, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson introduced the bipartisan Venezuelan Adjustment Act — a bill to adjust the legal status for certain Venezuelan nationals to that of lawfully admitted permanent residence if they meet certain criteria, including entering the United States before or on December 31, 2021.
“With the help of President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, we have delivered Temporary Protected Status and a new parole program to help hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees in Florida and throughout the nation,” said Congressman Soto, a Democrat. “Now, Venezuelans living in the United States need a pathway to permanent legal status in order to have greater stability.”
“The oppression of the Maduro regime and the failure of socialism of the 21st century has led to the world’s worst refugee crisis,” said Congresswoman Salazar, a Republican. “As a result, thousands of Venezuelans in Miami face an uncertain immigration situation and cannot return to Venezuela. I am proud to co-lead the Venezuelan Adjustment Act to provide refuge for those who have endured incredible suffering, so they do not have to return home to face the wrath of the dictatorship.”
The Venezuelan Adjustment Act would provide a path to LPR status to many Venezuelan nationals who have been living in the United States for years and allow them to continue making significant contributions to their communities, the state of Florida, and the country. It is vital that the United States continue to provide safety and support to Venezuelans who have fled the political, economic, and humanitarian crises continuing to plague Venezuela.
“Venezuela’s refugee crisis has displaced seven million people,” said Democratic Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. “President Biden has taken concrete action to protect our Venezuelan friends and neighbors by providing Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole. I’m proud to support his efforts by pushing for a humane, legal pathway to those who have fled poverty and persecution.”
Political instability caused by Nicolas Maduro’s authoritarian regime in Venezuela has led to massive food and medicine shortages, half of the population living in poverty, many suffering from food insecurity, and a crippled economy. Venezuela’s economy has contracted by more than 80% since 2014 which is more than twice the magnitude of the Great Depression in the United States.
Venezuela has also experienced some of the highest homicide and crime victimization rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, food and medicine shortages have led to poor infant and maternal mortality rates, and the return of previously eradicated diseases such as diphtheria and measles.
“The Venezuelan families who have sought refuge in the United States are escaping the perils inflicted by an authoritarian and oppressive regime. As the Venezuelan community endures the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis that has overtaken the country, our nation must step up to provide the support the Venezuelan people need,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Venezuelan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan effort to provide a pathway to permanent residency to qualifying Venezuelans in the United States. It is our duty to ensure those who have sought asylum have a pathway to permanent legal status as they continue to contribute to our local economy.”
Due to this ongoing crisis in Venezuela, Venezuelans have consistently been one of the leading nationalities requesting asylum in the United States since 2016. Venezuelans are also the largest group eligible for Temporary Protected Status, with over 300,000 people eligible as of March 2021. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics estimates that if Venezuela were to be redesignated for TPS, about 400,100 people would potentially be eligible.
The Venezuelan Adjustment Act will allow more than 400,000 Venezuelans who are fleeing an oppressive regime where totalitarianism prevails to obtain Permanent Residence without any model of change,” said Mildred Rodriguez, CEO of My Voice Counts. “It will offer permanent inclusion, insertion and social integration to the country that welcomes them, recovering their freedom and rebuilding a future of reunions without borders.”
For the full text of the bill, click here.
