U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Florida's 27th District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Florida's 27th District | Official U.S. House headshot
Reps. María Elvira Salazar, Darren Soto, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson have reintroduced the Venezuelan Adjustment Act (H.R. 1348). This legislation aims to adjust the legal status of certain Venezuelan nationals to that of lawfully admitted permanent residents if they meet specific criteria, including entering the United States before or on December 31, 2021.
Rep. Salazar stated, "The oppression of the Maduro regime and the failure of socialism of the 21st century has led to the world’s worst refugee crisis. As long as Maduro forcibly remains in power, this crisis will only get worse." She added that many Venezuelans who fled now face an uncertain future in the U.S., and she is proud to reintroduce this act to provide refuge for those who have suffered.
The act seeks to offer a path to lawful permanent residency for many Venezuelans who have lived in the U.S. for years, allowing them to continue contributing significantly to their communities and beyond. The ongoing political instability under Nicolas Maduro's authoritarian regime has led to severe economic contraction, poverty, food insecurity, and high crime rates in Venezuela.
Venezuelans have been one of the leading nationalities requesting asylum in the U.S. since 2016 due to these crises. Rep. Salazar has been active in efforts to protect Venezuelans from deportation by redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and advocating for programs like CHNV parole.
Salazar represents Florida's 27th congressional district with a significant population of Americans of Venezuelan descent and acknowledges over 750,000 Venezuelans currently residing in the U.S., many having migrated following political turmoil in Venezuela.
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