Immigration reform in 2026: what it could mean for Venezuelans, and what is not law

Checked10 NOV 2026against source

By Romulo Felizola · Published November 10, 2026

Short answer

No immigration reform has passed, and none changes your status today. On November 9, 2026 DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration is willing to work with Congress on a reform, ruled out a broad amnesty and said DACA could be examined. Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027. Bills that would help Venezuelans exist, but they are not law, and no application exists for any of them.

What was actually said, in dates

Date	What happened	Status
Nov 3, 2026	Midterm elections. Democrats win control of the House and the Senate; they take over when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.	Reported
Nov 6, 2026	The White House announces Stephen Miller as chief of staff, effective Nov 9.	Reported
Nov 8, 2026	In an interview aired by CBS, President Trump says he would like to do something on immigration with the new Democratic majority, says, according to a Spanish-language report, that his deportation policy was too harsh, and defends closing the border.	Reported
Nov 9, 2026	Mullin, speaking to reporters in Maryland, says he will work with Congress on a reform, will not grant amnesty to the more than 15 million people without status, and that DACA is something Congress could examine. He gives no bill and no timetable.	Reported

Read it for what it is: a statement of willingness. The same official wrote the day after the election that deportations will continue. Nothing in these remarks changes enforcement, TPS, parole, asylum or any visa category.

Which bills would help Venezuelans

Three bills from the current Congress are the ones advocates and Florida lawmakers cite. None has been enacted, and bills from a Congress die when it ends, so each would have to be introduced again in 2027.

Bill	What it would do	Status
H.R. 3310 Venezuela TPS Act of 2025	Designates TPS for Venezuelans by law for an initial 18 months from enactment. Rep. Salazar signed a discharge petition on March 25, 2026 to force a vote.	Not law
H.R. 1348 Venezuelan Adjustment Act	Lets eligible Venezuelans who entered the U.S. on or before December 31, 2021 apply for a green card. By its cutoff it would leave out later arrivals, including most people who came on parole.	Not law
H.R. 1589 American Dream and Promise Act	A green card track for nationals of countries that had TPS on January 1, 2017 (Venezuela did not; its first TPS came in 2021) and for people eligible for Deferred Enforced Departure on January 20, 2021. A January 2021 memorandum gave DED to Venezuelans present that day. Requires 3 years of continuous presence. A separate track covers people who entered at 18 or younger and have been continuously present since January 1, 2021, and it expressly includes people with TPS or DED.	Not law

Press reports link Rep. Salazar to a broader “Dignity” proposal. We found no bill text we could read, so treat anything said about its terms as unconfirmed.

What this means in practice

DoKeep proof of when you entered and how long you have lived here: passport stamps or I-94, leases, pay stubs, school and medical records. The bills above work with cutoff dates, and a date you cannot prove is a date you cannot use.
DoKeep your own case moving. A pending asylum claim, a family petition or a court date does not wait for Congress. See the asylum deadline after TPS and the TPS litigation.
Don'tDon't pay anyone to “register” for the reform. No form, fee or list exists. This is the setup for the oldest immigration scam; only attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives can legally advise you (see free help near your ZIP code).
Don'tDon't stop complying with the rules in force (address reports, court dates, check-ins) because a reform is being discussed.

What we do not know

Whether the administration and the incoming majority agree on anything beyond words. Whether DACA is the first piece or the only one. Whether a future bill would reach people who arrived after 2021. As written, neither green card bill above does; only H.R. 3310 would cover anyone present on the day it becomes law. And whether Congress treats Venezuelans separately because of the 2026 change in Caracas. We will update this page, with the date, when a bill is introduced or a vote is scheduled.

Questions people ask

Is there an immigration reform law in 2026?

No. As of November 10, 2026 no reform has passed. On November 9 DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration is willing to work with Congress on one, but he gave no bill, no text and no timetable.

Will Venezuelans get legal status or a green card through the reform?

Nobody can say yet. Bills that would help Venezuelans exist (a new TPS designation, a green card for Venezuelans who arrived by a cutoff date, a green card for those who were here by a date), but none has passed, and Mullin ruled out a broad amnesty. Any pathway that did pass would almost certainly depend on dates, such as when you entered.

Can I apply for the new immigration reform now?

No. There is no application, no form and no fee. Anyone selling a place in line for "the reform" is selling something that does not exist. Report them to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and use a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative instead.

Does the reform change my TPS or my case today?

No. Talks in Washington change nothing about your status, your work permit or your court date. What controls your situation today is the law and the court orders already in force; see the TPS guide for the litigation.

When could a reform pass?

Unlikely before 2027, but not impossible: the current Congress sits until January 3, 2027, and a discharge petition on one TPS bill has been filed. Nothing is scheduled. After that, unpassed bills expire and must be introduced again, pass both chambers and be signed by the president.

Sources checked on November 10, 2026

Something changed or looks wrong? Send us a correction. This guide is general information, not legal advice.