The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to revoke legal protections for over 300,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers, sparking widespread concern among migrant communities across the United States.
In San Antonio, Texas, home to a large Venezuelan community, tensions are high following the ruling.
Critics argue the Trump administration unfairly targeted Venezuelan refugees, while authorities in the city report issues with Venezuelan gangs, including the "Tren de Aragua." The administration has spotlighted this group, transferring suspected gang members to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who recently visited the notorious Salvadoran mega-prison -- defended the administration's actions in testimony before Congress last week.
"The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is to secure our nation and to make sure that we're out there going after those that are the worst of the worst, the criminals, the bad actors," she said.
However, a Venezuelan asylum seeker who would like to speak on condition of anonymity said that hundreds of thousands of honest Venezuelan refugees in America have been tarnished with the same brush.
"We are all seen as criminals. A minority of Venezuelans have turned to crime here, and now we are all being labelled as bad people," he said.
Other immigrant groups are watching closely. Nicaraguans like Joniel Ramirez are currently covered by Temporary Protected Status -- but that's due to expire in July -- and he says he's not counting on courts to come through for him.
"I'm going to self-deport. I'd rather leave on my own than be arrested and ejected as if I were a criminal. I don't understand all this hatred against immigrants; we're the ones who keep this country afloat," said the Nicaraguan migrant.
As the Trump administration cracks down on refugees, migrant communities across the country are growing increasingly nervous.
Court's ruling deepens migrant concerns amid revoked Venezuelan protection in US
Court's ruling deepens migrant concerns amid revoked Venezuelan protection in US
