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As Donald Trump threatens to wage war against Venezuela, Venezuelan refugees in the Sunshine State have new reason to fear for their own safety. That’s because the Trump administration on Friday officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 600,000 Venezuelan refugees, most of whom live in South Florida — and Doral in particular.
In light of the new developments and Doral’s unique place in Venezuelan-American culture, New Times asked the city’s Cuban-American mayor, Christi Fraga, a Republican and Trump supporter, to share her reaction to this turning point.
“As the daughter of immigrants who fled an oppressive regime in search of safety and opportunity, it’s incredibly difficult for me to reconcile how one arm of our government can say Venezuela is stable, while the other continues to recognize it as a narco-totalitarian dictatorship,” Fraga writes in a statement emailed to New Times earlier today. “The reality on the ground tells a clear story: Venezuela is still in a deep humanitarian crisis. Families there face prosecution, extreme poverty, and political repression.
“For many who sought refuge here, being told they must return to those conditions is difficult and heartbreaking. Until there is a legitimate transition of power and a restoration of basic freedoms, many Venezuelans rightfully remain fearful for their lives.
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“We all agree that border security and proper vetting are essential; criminals should be and have been deported,” Fraga’s statement continues. “But families who have built their lives here, who contribute positively to our community, are paying a heavy price for years of inconsistent immigration policy and open borders of the previous administration. It’s a deeply human tragedy that should transcend politics.”
Fraga says her support for Trump and his immigration policies began to waver earlier this year when threats to end TPS arose under his second term. But while she had earlier expressed misgivings at the prospect of ICE agents rounding up law-abiding citizens, she participated in the unanimous vote to enter into a so-called 287(g) agreement with the agency when the Doral City Council took up the matter in April.
“We have an obligation and a responsibility to follow the law,” Fraga said during the meeting, regarding her decision to enter into the 287(g) agreement. “It would be hypocritical of us to tell any community, ‘You need to follow the rules and follow the law,’ and then we go around and do something different.”
“And I think that no other community has spoken up for its community as much as we all have,” she continued.
But not every South Florida community jumped on board with 287(g). South Miami and Miami Shores pushed back against the immigration enforcement pact. South Miami sued the state in March, and even after a judge tossed the case in September, the city still hasn’t signed on. Miami Shores hit pause in July, choosing to see how South Miami’s legal fight played out.
And for all of Fraga’s apparent hesitation about Trump, the president certainly seems to approve of the mayor, whom he addressed directly during his speech at the America Business Forum on Wednesday.
“The mayor of Doral. I love Doral, and I like this woman a lot. Christi Fraga. Where’s Christi?” he asked. “Thank you, Christi. I like Doral.”
Immigration Activist Urges Calm
Friday’s end to TPS for more than half a million Venezuelan refugees doesn’t necessarily translate to an instant putsch by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, notes Florida Immigrant Coalition policy analyst and activist Thomas Kennedy.
“They are on a government list, but I don’t want to panic anybody by saying the government is going to target these people,” Kennedy tells New Times.
Still, Kennedy adds, the threat of deportation is very real for Venezuelan refugees who just lost TPS. “They could be asked to show up for an ICE check-in and get detained. But they’re most likely to be detained by one of the deputized departments like highway patrol, who are extremely zealous.”
Against that backdrop, Kennedy questions the sincerity of Fraga’s recent remarks.
“If Fraga is truly so concerned with the de-documentation of thousands of her Venezuelan constituents and their exposure to immigration enforcement, she should follow the lead of cities like South Miami and Miami Shores who have not signed on to 287g police-ICE collaboration agreements,” he says. “The city of Doral is not mandated to sign on to these types of agreements, something that has been made clear time and again.”
Doral Is a Hub of Venezuelan-American Life
Fraga notes that a large majority of Doral’s Venezuelan residents have been here for years. Many are permanent residents, green card holders, or citizens.
“There’s a deep sense of uncertainty and sadness in our community today,” she writes in her statement. “Many of these families have been living productive, law-abiding lives for years. They pay taxes, contribute to our economy, and are raising children who know no other home. To now face the possibility of being uprooted and sent back to a country still in turmoil is incredibly difficult to accept.
“What’s most heartbreaking is the fear you see in their faces, parents worried for their children’s future, families unsure of what comes next. And, as mayor, it’s painful to see that fear and know there’s little I can personally do to change their circumstances.”
