Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies, especially targeting Venezuelans, have significantly increased the number of Venezuelan asylum seekers in Spain. Thousands have fled the US due to threats of deportation, seeking refuge in Spain.
The article highlights several cases of Venezuelans who have fled the US after receiving deportation threats or seeing their legal statuses revoked under Trump's administration. This is coupled with the failed presidential bid of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González, extinguishing hope for change in Venezuela and furthering the exodus.
Spain's welcoming immigration policies, particularly its near-automatic granting of residency permits to asylum seekers since 2018, have made it a primary destination. The number of Venezuelans seeking asylum in Spain has surged, representing almost 60% of all asylum applications in 2025.
Trump's policies haven't been universally applied. The article points out that his administration specifically targeted Venezuelans, revoking their humanitarian parole and TPS status. The rhetoric used by Trump and his administration has fueled hostility toward Venezuelan immigrants.
The increase in asylum seekers is just the beginning. The article suggests that more Venezuelans will likely seek refuge in Spain as long as the situation in Venezuela remains unstable and Trump's policies continue affecting the Venezuelan diaspora in the US. Legal professionals are overwhelmed with consultations from Venezuelans in various countries re-evaluating their plans and looking toward Spain.