White House hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris says the White House should extend temporary protected status to refugees displaced by the power struggle in Venezuela, calling for the U.S. to "show moral leadership in this hemisphere."

The California Democrat turned to Twitter Saturday to express her support for the U.S.-backed opposition movement, saying she supports a peaceful and democratic transition of power in the South American county, which has been engulfed by an economic and humanitarian crisis.

In the same thread, Harris said if president, she would extend temporary protected status for Venezuelan refugees, calling it "the right thing to do."

"What’s happening in Venezuela is a crisis. The people who have fled Maduro’s dictatorial regime deserve safety and protection," she tweeted.



What’s happening in Venezuela is a crisis. The people who have fled Maduro’s dictatorial regime deserve safety and protection. As President, I would immediately extend TPS status to Venezuelans. It’s the right thing to do. America must show moral leadership in this hemisphere. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 23, 2019



The status is issued to individuals from certain designated countries coping with ongoing extreme conflict or a major natural disaster, who can then legally obtain employment and can stay without being deported. Nationals from Honduras and Haiti, for example, were extended the status because of civil war and the 2010 earthquake, respectively.