Doral passes resolution about TPS termination for Venezuelans
DORAL, FL – On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the City of Doral council unanimously approved a resolution urging Trump’s administration to find a permanent solution for law abiding Venezuelans affected by the recent TPS termination for the country.
Sponsored by councilman Rafael Pineyro and cosponsored by Mayor Christi Fraga, the item cemented the stand of the council on an issue that can bring enormous consequences for the large population of legal immigrants living in Doral.
“First of all, as the only Venezuelan American part of this council, I felt certainly the obligation to bring this forward…I guarantee you that a lot of you at least know someone under a TPS or some type of immigration process right now from Venezuela,” Pineyro said in his opening remarks.
“The idea as part of this resolution is to kind of explain to the administration about what the real Venezuelan community is about. It’s not about Tren de Aragua, we’re not Tren de Aragua, I’m not Tren de Aragua and the people here are not Tren de Aragua,” he added.
Councilman Pineyro brought forward some statistics that reflect this to be true. “When you look at the numbers of Venezuelans right now under a TPS from 2021, you’re looking over 300,000 and according to ICE, only about close to 600 Venezuelans have been identified as Tren de Aragua, only 600 out of 300,000.”
He also took the opportunity to remind his fellow councilmembers that close to 40% of the Doral population is composed of Venezuelan immigrants who have helped the city’s economy grow, making it “one of the most vibrant communities in Miami-Dade County and among the fastest growing cities in the nation.”
Venezuelans, as stated by Pineyro, ran from their country in order to escape the “brutal” and communist dictatorship of Hugo Chávez and now Nicolás Maduro. “Law-abiding Venezuelans honor the American principles of family and freedom and desire to continue to reside and provide for their families in the United States.”
But with the TPS termination for Venezuelans, many will be deported “into the murderous hands of the Maduro regime, resulting in not only the persecution, but the torture, political imprisonment, and death” of them.
In plain numbers, said Pineyro, Venezuela right now has close to 1,600 political prisoners. “So, we’re talking about sending good Venezuelans, professionals and families, back to a country that doesn’t respect human rights.”
Nevertheless, councilman Pineyro, as well as the rest of the council, made it clear that the new passed resolution is not intended to confront President Trump’s immigration policies, but rather encourage the administration to work together for a common solution that can help Venezuelans living not only in Doral, but in the rest of the country.
On this instance, councilwoman Maureen Porras said she asks the council to include in the resolution “some sort of language” to support not just the reinstatement of the TPS or the extension of it, but to also add the request of finding a permanent solution to the Venezuelans who have been contributing to the proposal for the Venezuelan adjustment Act.
Christi Fraga agreed with the above. “This is a stand to represent those who sometimes feel voiceless. I know the anxiousness that’s felt throughout the community at this time. I’ve received the phone calls and the text messages and it’s not something that we want within our community to be felt.”
“I still have lots of faith that something will be granted, whether it’s a reestablishment of the TPS, weeding out those who have abused the process, or giving it a more surgical approach as Congressman Jimenez said. I hope the federal government sees what it means to have a productive immigrant community that has participated in the development of a city in the right way.”