NYC Venezuelan Restaurants Fight for TPS Amid Quake Relief
Marly Quiroga couldn't reach her 93-year-old mother in Caracas for hours after the June 24 earthquakes — the phone towers had collapsed. While she waited for news, she made a decision: close the restaurant, open the doors, and start collecting donations. Now, as Venezuelan businesses across New York City run a cross-country relief operation, their owners are also demanding something from Washington — the restoration of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans living in the US.
You run a small Venezuelan restaurant in Queens. On June 24, your phone lights up with WhatsApp messages — two earthquakes, magnitudes 7.5 and 7.2, just hit Caracas and La Guaira. You can't reach your family. The phone towers are down. That is exactly what happened to Marly Quiroga, owner of Arepa La Newyorkina in Astoria, and dozens of other Venezuelan business owners across New York City.
Within 24 hours, Quiroga shut down her kitchen and opened her doors as a donation center. Volunteers packed food, baby supplies, clothes, and medicine. People sent Amazon wish-list items directly to her address. The hours stretched from 9 p.m. to nearly midnight because so many people wanted to drop off donations. "Solidarity does not have borders," Quiroga told Documented. Her 93-year-old mother had to be carried out of her building in Caracas during the shaking. Nearly 5,000 people died, according to Venezuelan government figures, with roughly 17,000 injured and 18,000 displaced into makeshift camps.
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Across the five boroughs, Venezuelan restaurants coordinated a supply chain: donations collected at spots like Kween in Astoria and Arepa La Newyorkina moved to Lulla's in Brooklyn, which now operates out of a warehouse holding 600 shipping pallets. As of mid-July, eight containers — 28 pallets each — had already shipped to Venezuela. Each truck run to Miami costs at least $9,000, so Alejandra Ramos, chef and organizer at Lulla's, said monetary donations are the priority now. A WhatsApp volunteer group at Lulla's alone has grown to 600 people. Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the Brooklyn site on July 6 and called on the federal government to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a form of humanitarian protection that lets people from certain countries live and work legally in the US — for Venezuelans. TPS for Venezuela was revoked earlier in 2026, leaving many Venezuelans in the US without legal status.
What the TPS demand means for Venezuelans in the US
The push to restore TPS is not just symbolic. Without TPS, Venezuelans who had relied on that status may now face removal proceedings — the formal legal process to deport someone. They also lose the work permit (called an EAD, or Employment Authorization Document) that came with TPS. Advocates and business owners say the earthquake makes the case for restoration even stronger: people cannot safely return to a country where thousands died and tens of thousands are living on the street.
What to do
- If you had TPS and it was revoked, talk to an immigration lawyer now. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for asylum, withholding of removal, or another form of protection — but deadlines and eligibility rules vary.
- To donate goods, Lulla's in Brooklyn is accepting donations on weekends and is prioritizing medicine, camping supplies, solar-powered fans, and clothes. You can also send items via their Amazon wish list.
- To donate money toward shipping costs, nonprofit organizations Fundave NYC and Aid For Life are collecting funds to cover truck shipments and immediate needs.
- To volunteer, join the Lulla's WhatsApp group or contact Fundave NYC — both post shifts and tasks regularly.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Preparing for Your Asylum Interview”.
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Venezuelans who lost TPS should immediately consult an immigration attorney to assess whether they have an independent asylum claim based on the earthquake, ongoing political persecution, or both — these are separate legal grounds that do not depend on TPS. If you are already in removal proceedings, you may be able to request a continuance while a new TPS designation is pending, but you must appear at every scheduled hearing or risk an in-absentia removal order. Do not assume that a pending policy change protects you — get a case-specific legal review as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
TPS for Venezuela was revoked. Can I still stay in the US legally?
Possibly. You may qualify for asylum, withholding of removal, or other protections — but each has its own rules and deadlines. Talk to an immigration lawyer to find out what applies to your specific situation.
What is TPS and why does it matter for Venezuelans?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) lets people from certain countries live and work legally in the US when it is unsafe to return home — due to disasters, armed conflict, or other crises. With TPS, you get a work permit (EAD). Without it, you lose that legal status and work authorization.
How can I donate to Venezuela earthquake relief from New York?
Lulla's restaurant in Brooklyn accepts physical donations on weekends — currently prioritizing medicine, camping supplies, solar-powered fans, and clothing. You can also donate money through Fundave NYC or Aid For Life to help cover the $9,000-per-truck shipping cost to Miami.
If I am Venezuelan and in removal proceedings, does the earthquake change anything?
It may strengthen an asylum or withholding-of-removal claim, especially if you can show you have no safe place to return to. But you must keep attending all court hearings — missing one can result in a removal order issued without you present. An immigration attorney can help you argue for a delay or file the right paperwork.