Democracy Dies in Darkness

Venezuelans backed Trump. Now some worry he’ll deport them.

Venezuelans in the Miami suburb of Doral have been some of Trump’s biggest proponents. Many feel betrayed after he revoked temporary protected status for thousands.

February 9, 2025

10 min

Andrea Gabriela Rangel Walther, 29, cries with her parents, Franklin Rangel and Andreina Walther, at their home in Miami. She worries that her parents will be deported. (Reshma Kirpalani/The Washington Post)

By Sabrina Rodriguez

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Reshma Kirpalani

DORAL, Fla. — Ronald Bellorin decided to flee Venezuela for the United States during President Donald Trump’s first administration, convinced the Republican leader would protect people like him who had been targeted by an autocratic regime.

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Now the university professor is worried the Trump administration is going to deport him. The Department of Homeland Security has canceled the temporary protected status given to thousands of Venezuelans who have arrived in recent years. Bellorin’s permission to work in the United States is set to expire in April, and his shield from deportation in September.

What readers are saying

The comments overwhelmingly express a lack of sympathy for Venezuelans in Doral, known as "Doralzuela," who supported Trump and now face the consequences of his policies, including the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Many commenters highlight the irony of... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

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By Sabrina Rodriguez

Sabrina Rodriguez is a national politics reporter for The Washington Post. She chronicles the evolving demographics in battleground states and the ways candidates, campaigns and interest groups seek to mobilize voter blocs large and small.@sabrod123

By Reshma Kirpalani

Reshma Kirpalani is a video journalist on The Washington Post's video enterprise team. @Reshma416

What readers are saying

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