6 March 20-26, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | ¡VIVA DORALZUELA! Doral City Council backs deportation protections. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN D oral city leaders are urg- ing President Donald Trump to reinstate de- portation protections for immigrants fleeing Venezuela and throwing their support be- hind bipartisan legislation that would offer migrants a path to le- gal residency. On Wednesday, March 12, the city council unanimously passed a resolution to reaffirm support for the Venezuelan Adjustment Act and voice their concerns in the wake of the Trump administration suspending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the nearly 400,000 Venezuelans living in the United States. “The City of Doral is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States,” the resolution states. “Many Venezuelan nationals have sought refuge in our city due to the ongoing political and hu- manitarian crisis in their home country. Their contributions to our economy, culture, and society are invaluable.” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revoked a 2023 designation of TPS for Venezuelans in February as part of the ad- ministration’s crackdown on immigration, making them eligible for deportation in April. (A previous 2021 TPS designation for Vene- zuelans permits those registered under the program to remain in the U.S. until Septem- ber.) The federal program allows migrants who cannot safely return to their home coun- tries to work and live in the U.S. Just before leaving office, President Joe Biden and his administration had extended temporary status for Venezuelan nationals for an additional 18 months, citing the ongo- ing political and economic crises under Nico- lás Maduro’s regime. Those living in the U.S. on or before July 31, 2023, were eligible for the extension. After the Trump administration stripped protections, a group of South Florida law- makers reintroduced H.R. 1348, the Venezue- lan Adjustment Act, which would “authorize the secretary of homeland security to adjust the status of certain aliens who are nationals of Venezuela to that of aliens lawfully admit- ted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.” The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Darren Soto, María Elvira Salazar, Frederica Wilson, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, would apply to Venezuelans who entered the U.S. before or on December 31, 2021. “The Venezuelan Adjustment Act will give security and peace of mind to tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have fled a murderous, totalitarian regime,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said in a statement last month. Doral’s resolution directs the city clerk to transmit copies of the item to South Florida senators and representatives and encourages city staff to disseminate information about le- gal resources and community support ser- vices to those affected. “We urge our federal representatives to support the Venezuelan Adjustment Act and seek alternative solutions for those affected by the TPS suspension,” the item states. Francisco Rodriguez, an Orlando resident whose son lives in Doral, thanked Doral city leaders for supporting the Venezuelan com- munity. “Doral is known as Doralzuela for a reason,” he said. “Let’s honor that name by standing together in support of this act.” His wife, Mildred, CEO of the advocacy group My Voice Counts, reiterated that this should not be a political issue. “Supporting this bill means recognizing the reality of those who are already part of our society who work, pay taxes, and contrib- ute locally and nationally,” she said.”This is for the community and also [to] demonstrate that we are an asset [to] this nation.” “Before the vote, city council members ex- pressed their support for the Venezuelan community. Councilwoman Digna Cabral said the community is very close to her heart. “I always say this when with our Venezu- ela brothers and sisters that I am very grate- ful, and the Dominican Republic is always very grateful because you were the ones who actually embraced the father of our country, Juan Pablo Duarte, when he [was] exiled from the Dominican Republic,” she said. Councilwoman Nicole Reinoso added, “Why not give hard-working Venezuelans that have come here seeking help from a country that lot of them have done nothing else but to add to our economy, add to the growth and culture of a city like the city of Doral?” Despite her support for President Trump and his immigration policies, Mayor Christi Fraga wrote, in a letter to Vice President JD Vance, that “it is equally important to recognize that many TPS holders are not part of this crisis.” She urged Trump to find a solution to help those fleeing Venezuela, but also praised his administration for securing the border. “I commend the Trump administration for securing our border and enforcing a zero- tolerance policy on illegal immigration,” Fraga wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “We can uphold American interests while defending freedom.” In other Trump news, Fraga supported the Trump Organization’s condo project at the Trump National Doral Resort while oth- ers expressed concerns about traffic flow. “They’ve made every attempt to be consid- erate of the impacts and to be good neigh- bors,” she said at the January meeting where the council approved the project in a 4-0 vote. “They’ve bent over backward. There will be an impact on our community, but Doral is in a development stage.” Fraga also cheered on Trump as he cele- brated his second inauguration. “Today at 12 p.m., we witness history as Donald J. Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States,” she wrote on X. “Congratulations, Mr. President! Praying for wisdom and success as you lead our na- tion forward.” [email protected] Nicolás Maduro speaks during a press conference after casting his vote in the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 28, 2024. Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images | METRO |
