In just a matter of hours, more than 250,000 Venezuelans across the United States — including tens of thousands living in South Florida — will lose their protection from deportation.

Temporary Protected Status set to expire

For the past several years, they've been shielded under Temporary Protected Status , or TPS, a federal program that allows migrants from unstable countries to live and work legally in the U.S. But as the clock runs out on Friday before midnight, that protection will disappear.

For many families, the fear is immediate and deeply personal. One Venezuelan woman — who asked to be identified only as María — spoke to CBS News Miami under the condition of anonymity.

"My family and myself, we are desperate because this happened so fast," she said. "I feel persecuted… I'

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