Venezuelan communities and activists say they are fiercely opposed to the executive order of U.S. President Donald Trump to end deportation protection for Venezuelans, saying it could separate families and upend lives built over decades in the United States.
In a dramatic policy shift, the Trump administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 Venezuelan residents, exposing them to immediate deportation.
In Miami, Florida, the Venezuelans have fired back after the executive order.
"I want to send the message to the president. If the Venezuelan Americans voted for you in large numbers, they did so to remove criminals and to oust Nicolas Maduro from Miraflores. Venezuelan Americans did not vote for you to criminalize the majority of Venezuelans who are now left without status and for you to negotiate with Nicolas Maduro in Miraflores," said Carlos Pereira, a Venezuelan American politician and activist.
The decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status known as TPS will leave thousands in their community undocumented and vulnerable to potential deportation.
Those under TPS from Venezuela who received the protections in 2023 will lose their temporary status 60 days after the government publishes the termination notice.
Mariana Molero and her husband have been in the U.S. for 20 years and she is facing the upcoming tough nut.
"I'm under TPS, but I also have a deportation order. So if the TPS is swiped out, I'm going to be ready for removal," she said.
She said she will fight on although she has got a deportation order as her husband lost the asylum.
"We keep fighting. We never stopped fighting for the Venezuelan freedom since we were in Venezuela. That makes us to run away. Back in the moment, it was really hard for the United States to acknowledge what was happening there. We couldn't prove the asylum and then we got the deportation order," said Molero.
The couple have two U.S. born children, an 18-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter, Paola Fernandez.
"I feel sad for they [the parents] did everything for me, trying to make me have a better life," said Paola Fernandez.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing security concerns. Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, claims Venezuela no longer meets conditions for TPS.
The Venezuelan community remains defiant, vowing to take their cases to court and explore every legal avenue to stay in the United States.
Venezuelans in U.S. oppose Trump's deportation order
Venezuelans in U.S. oppose Trump's deportation order
Venezuelans in U.S. oppose Trump's deportation order
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
