Deportation Flights of Venezuelans Not Paused After Maduro Arrest, DHS Confirms

Venezuelan applicants can apply for refugee status if they have not entered the United States, the agency says.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Office Director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing in Silver Spring, Md., on Jan. 27, 2025. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that deportations flights of Venezuelan nationals are ongoing and that applicants can apply for refugee status only before entering the United States.

In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked whether Venezuelans can remain in the United States after a U.S. operation led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. She responded by saying that they can apply for refugee status instead of relying on temporary protected status (TPS).