I was born and raised in a Venezuela that albeit imperfect, instilled in me a sense of hope. The energy was palpable, and my peers and I unequivocally recognized its potential and its promise. People from all over the world came to Venezuela seeking and finding refuge. In 1983, I came to the United States to go to college, graduate, gain some work experience, and return. I was eager to make my contribution to strengthen Venezuela’s potential. Life had other plans and I ended up getting married and raising a family in Maryland. I also became actively involved in my adopted community and in 2004 became one of only two Venezuelan-American elected officials in the United States. Today, I am the first Latina elected to the Montgomery County Maryland Council, representing over a million residents.
Unimaginable things have happened since I left Venezuela. The country is a shadow of that promising land, pain and suffering is everywhere, and hopelessness has taken over. This has led to a humanitarian crisis in which over 5 million people have fled widespread human rights violations, hunger, and death due to the actions of the Chavez-Maduro regime. Many came to the United States where they found refuge and started new lives. Today, hundreds of thousands of my fellow Venezuelans languish in daily limbo wondering about their future, in addition to the challenge of their daily lives. In response, the Biden Administration granted Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to over 650,000 individuals, approximately half of whom are Venezuelans. This has helped protect the vulnerable as a stop-gap measure. We can and must do more. The average TPS holder has been in the country for more than 20 years, contributing to our economy and helping us rebuild and recover from the pandemic. Many of them are mixed citizen/immigrant families who have purchased homes and opened businesses, paid taxes, attended schools and places of worship. Despite being an integral part of our communities, TPS holders live in a constant state of uncertainty, need to reapply to the program every 6 to 18 months and pay substantial fees. It is time to end the uncertainty and make these protections permanent so that families can move forward. They need to have a path to citizenship. We need elected officials from both parties to work together to make it happen.
A coalition of leaders, community advocates and elected officials recently held a Bipartisan National Summit titled “Venezuelans United for a Path to Citizenship.” At that event, we heard from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland who introduced the SECURE Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship to an estimated 650,000 TPS holders, including more than 320,000 Venezuelans. He noted that it needs at least one Republican co-sponsor and the support of 10 GOP senators to become law. We also heard from Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Rene Garcia, Miami-Dade Commissioner and Chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, and community and business leaders who all agreed that TPS holders should have a shot at citizenship. More than 250 Venezuelan leaders and organizations from across the country sent a letter to Senators Rubio (R–FL) and Scott (R–FL) urging them to co-sponsor the SECURE Act.
Now is the time for bipartisan action. I am adding my name and calling on key leaders in the Republican Party, especially leaders like Senators Rubio and Scott to do just that.
It’s the right thing, and it has popular support. 64% of voters overwhelmingly support granting TPS to immigrants who have been living and working in the U.S. for many years. In another poll, almost 9 in 10 Venezuelan Americans and Cuban Americans support a more permanent solution to grant legal status to Venezuelan migrants.
TPS holders have and continue to contribute meaningfully to the social and economic fabric of this great nation. The United States is better for it. Yet TPS holders live in uncertainty by constantly having to reapply for the programat a significant financial and emotional cost. The time is now for leaders to do what is right for these residents and for our nation. Speeches are nice, promises are great, but action is what we need. No more excuses por favor, necesitamos su apoyo.
Nancy Navarro is a member of the Montgomery County Council, District 4, in Maryland