Trump officials make plans to revoke legal status of migrants welcomed under Biden
CBSJAN 27
Trump Says Venezuela Agreed to Accept Deported Migrants
Above: Immigrants from Venezuela walk towards a US Border Patrol transit center after crossing the Rio Grande on Jan. 8, 2024. Image copyright: John Moore/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump has betrayed Venezuelan exiles in America for the second time in a week. He revoked deportation protections to tackle a 0.1% that may be gang members and deployed a senior official to negotiate with Maduro in a move that legitimizes his fraudulent reelection — quite a U-turn for people who criticized Biden over talks to ensure elections last year.
Republican narrative
Trump is always one step ahead — and this agreement means he is about to kill two birds with a stone. At home, the return of Venezuelans will help resolve the immigration crisis, reducing costs and increasing wages. Abroad, this move further pressures the Maduro dictatorship and reduces remittances to Venezuela.
Narrative C
This is a volatile situation for Venezuela. Trump has promised to put America First, and that's what he's doing. Whether Venezuela's democracy is eroding or not, this issue means little to the 47th president for now. The Trump administration first wants to solve the immigration crisis in the US, and oil prices are likely to follow. But what this gambit means for Venezuela and the region is far from clear.