Photo by Alona Abbady Martinez
Audio By Carbonatix
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, the mayor of Doral, which is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the U.S., said she is deeply concerned by the ruling.
“This decision will have a direct and painful impact on families who have become part of the very fabric of our city and South Florida,” Mayor Christi Fraga wrote in a statement on social media. “These are men and women who came to America fleeing an oppressive regime, who work hard, contribute to our economy, raise families, and give back to our community every single day. They deserve the compassion and fairness that our great nation has always stood for.”
On Friday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, overturning a lower court ruling that had preserved the Biden-era program. The court has now paved the way for the Trump administration to lift deportation protections for up to 600,000 Venezuelan immigrants; TPS officially ends on November 8.
“After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that Venezuela no longer meets the conditions for its designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and that the termination of the 2023 Venezuela TPS designation is required as it is contrary to the national interest,” the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website states.
The ruling comes as Venezuelans are fleeing Doral, also known as Doralzuela, amid President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that Venezuelans have fled the community, driving up vacancy rates and lowering rental rates to their lowest level in three years. In some buildings, the vacancy rates have risen above 10 percent, according to the WSJ. Amid the uncertainty over TPS, some Doral residents are packing up and leaving, often abandoning furniture and other possessions in their haste.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” a real estate agent told the publication.
Fraga contends that the city has not seen any data to confirm that Venezuelans are fleeing en masse, despite the recent reporting. She says that the majority of Venezuelans in Doral are either permanent residents, U.S. citizens, or have legal status outside of TPS.
“The only data that they’re using is real estate data, which is consistent with the national average right now, which is that you’re seeing properties on the market a little longer than usual,” Fraga tells New Times, explaining that the trend is consistent with what she has observed over the last three years. “[Homes are] still getting purchased, so it’s on trend with the national average. I don’t think that Doral has been particularly affected any more, any less than anywhere else.”
Mayor Fraga urged the Trump administration and Congress to find a solution for Venezuelans fleeing persecution and a humanitarian crisis back home.
“This is not about politics, it’s about people,” she added in her statement. “It’s about protecting families who have sought refuge under our flag and who continue to strengthen our communities through faith, family, and service.
Some Instagram users responded by calling out the mayor, pointing out her ardent support for President Donald Trump and his immigration policies.
“With all due respect Madam Mayor, you supported this president and knew very well beforehand that he wanted to do this during his term,” one comment reads. “No puedes tirar la piedra y esconder la mano (translation: “You can’t throw the stone and hide your hand”). This falls on you as well.”
Another user added, “You knew this was going to happen and still supported it. You and all your supporters/allies are and will be responsible for the life and physical and mental integrity of any Venezuelan deported, and it will haunt you for eternity!”
One wrote, “Your letter is a clear example of hypocrisy. How can you stand alongside the president and support his agenda, while at the same time asking him to blur or ignore it for one select group of people?”
A user chimed in, “Tbh this seems 2 faced because on one end we see you sucking up to Trump and then here you are begging him for help when people like you helped him get elected. Maybe make better decisions and stop trying to be friends with fake dictators.”
Despite her strong support for the president, she says, she doesn’t need to agree with him on every position. She tells New Times that this particular position has been “extremely harsh,” arguing that conditions in the country have not improved.
“I think this is the exact problem with our politics and the fact that we can’t get much done these days when trying to agree to disagree on things,” Fraga adds. “Just because I am a strong supporter of the president, the Republican Party, and agree with many of the administration’s decisions — which I think have been very positive for our country — doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything.”
As the daughter of Cuban immigrants, she says it would be hypocritical for her not to speak up for Venezuelans.
