Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins on Saturday expressed solidarity with the city’s Venezuelan community after the United States carried out military strikes on Venezuela.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the strikes resulted in the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement, Higgins emphasized the city’s commitment to public safety. She said the Miami Police Department is prepared to protect lives, maintain order, and ensure residents can gather peacefully.
“The City of Miami stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan community during this historic time,” Higgins said, noting that Miami has long served as a refuge for those fleeing political instability and oppression.
At the same time, the mayor sharply criticized the earlier elimination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, calling the decision “reckless, dangerous, and wrong.” She argued that the latest developments in Venezuela underscore ongoing instability and reinforce concerns about forcing migrants to return.
“The instability unfolding in Venezuela today makes it even clearer that the country remains unsafe for people to return,” Higgins said. “No one should be forced back into chaos and uncertainty.”
Higgins formally called on President Donald Trump to immediately reinstate TPS for Venezuelan nationals living in the United States, emphasizing their contributions to Miami’s economy and civic life. She framed the issue as one of both policy and principle.
“They have built lives here, contributed to our community, and deserve the security to remain while their homeland regains stability,” she said. “This is not just a matter of policy—it is a matter of basic human dignity and safety.”
The mayor reaffirmed Miami’s identity as a city shaped by immigrants and pledged continued support for Venezuelan residents in the days ahead, as the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve.
