By Daniel Nardini
U.S. envoys sent by President Donald Trump have somehow worked out an agreement with socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro whereby the Maduro regime will take back all those “illegal migrants” and “criminal gangs” that are in the United States. Not long after that Trump removed the temporary protective status (TPS) of all those Venezuelans in the United States who were classified under this category. This could affect up to 300,000 Venezuelans who are under TPS and have no criminal record and have helped contribute to the economy and society of the United States. Why? These people had been thoroughly vetted and are no threat to America or Americans. They fled the socialist regime of Maduro for anywhere outside of Venezuela including the United States (most of the Venezuelan refugees are in neighboring Colombia).
Yes, the TPS is indeed temporary in the sense that once the Maduro regime is gone then those Venezuelans who are here under TPS can return to Venezuela. But the Maduro regime is still very much in power. With this fact of life is the reality that Venezuela is still a socialist state under a dictator who “won” the last Venezuelan election through fraudulent means. The ruling party, the United Socialist Party, is still the only ruling party in the country. Maduro’s secret police, his loyal militia, the armed forces, and the prisons are very much under Maduro’s control. The Trump administration claims that the economic and political situation in Venezuela has “stabilized.” Maybe, but the power structure that has made Venezuela one of the most repressive and brutal dictatorships in the Americas is still there. No Venezuelan wants to go back to this, and they most certainly fear for their lives. And with good reason. Those forcibly returned to Venezuela before from other countries have either been imprisoned or executed. Those who were forcibly returned to Venezuela might have escape and gone into hiding or got lucky and escaped from the country again. No amount of stability makes this country safe for any Venezuelan who is outside of Maduro’s clutches.
Why is this happening? Has it not occurred to the President and the U.S. Congress that forcibly sending Venezuelans living in the United States back to Venezuela could amount to a death sentence? We have to remember that Maduro’s secret police are practiced executioners and will have no problem eliminating any and all opponents of the regime. It would be like sending those Russians who escaped Stalin’s Soviet Union back to Stalin’s secret police knowing full well what would happen to such people. The irony is that most Venezuelans supported Trump becoming president again. Either those Venezuelans who are U.S. citizens voted for Trump, or those Venezuelans covered by TPS contributed to the Republican Party and the Trump’s election campaign. Because of this, many Americans who voted against Trump have no sympathy for those who supported Trump. But even I would not want to see people who made a huge mistake face prison or death in a dark land ruled by a socialist tyrant. Pity the poor Venezuelans who must now face an uncertain future.
Pity the Venezuelans
By Daniel Nardini
Yes, the TPS is indeed temporary in the sense that once the Maduro regime is gone then those Venezuelans who are here under TPS can return to Venezuela. But the Maduro regime is still very much in power. With this fact of life is the reality that Venezuela is still a socialist state under a dictator who “won” the last Venezuelan election through fraudulent means. The ruling party, the United Socialist Party, is still the only ruling party in the country. Maduro’s secret police, his loyal militia, the armed forces, and the prisons are very much under Maduro’s control. The Trump administration claims that the economic and political situation in Venezuela has “stabilized.” Maybe, but the power structure that has made Venezuela one of the most repressive and brutal dictatorships in the Americas is still there. No Venezuelan wants to go back to this, and they most certainly fear for their lives. And with good reason. Those forcibly returned to Venezuela before from other countries have either been imprisoned or executed. Those who were forcibly returned to Venezuela might have escape and gone into hiding or got lucky and escaped from the country again. No amount of stability makes this country safe for any Venezuelan who is outside of Maduro’s clutches.
Why is this happening? Has it not occurred to the President and the U.S. Congress that forcibly sending Venezuelans living in the United States back to Venezuela could amount to a death sentence? We have to remember that Maduro’s secret police are practiced executioners and will have no problem eliminating any and all opponents of the regime. It would be like sending those Russians who escaped Stalin’s Soviet Union back to Stalin’s secret police knowing full well what would happen to such people. The irony is that most Venezuelans supported Trump becoming president again. Either those Venezuelans who are U.S. citizens voted for Trump, or those Venezuelans covered by TPS contributed to the Republican Party and the Trump’s election campaign. Because of this, many Americans who voted against Trump have no sympathy for those who supported Trump. But even I would not want to see people who made a huge mistake face prison or death in a dark land ruled by a socialist tyrant. Pity the poor Venezuelans who must now face an uncertain future.