WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the Biden Administration designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status. FWD.us Digital Campaigns Manager Juan Escalante, a DACA recipient born in Venezuela, issued the following statement:

“The chaos, turmoil, and political unrest that has consumed my native homeland of Venezuela is heartbreaking, and the idea that more than 300,000 Venezuelans who have been living in and contributing to the U.S. could be deported to a country where their lives and freedoms would be threatened is terrifying. President Biden promised that Venezuelan nationals living in the U.S. would be granted Temporary Protected Status once he took office, and we are thankful he is following through on this commitment. No one should be deported to places where their lives will be at extreme risk. This is an important step—and one that is long overdue—but it shouldn’t deter Congress’s ongoing efforts to provide a permanent pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, many of whom are essential workers like doctors and nurses, or farmworkers helping to keep food on our tables. We have a once in a generation opportunity to help our families, communities, and economy through legislation that is currently being considered in Congress. The American people are more than ready for decisive action to put undocumented immigrants on a pathway to citizenship. Lawmakers must get to work immediately to pass these bills – there’s no time to waste.”