Over 100,000 Ukrainians safe from deportation as US is set to extend protection status
Temporary Protection Status was granted to Ukraine’s citizens on March 3, 2022, just over a week after Russia begun its full-scale war against Ukraine.
The U.S. is poised to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, according to a CNN report on October 18. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that an official announcement is pending. Ukrainians holding TPS are permitted to legally reside in the United States, apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and attend educational institutions.
This protection has been granted to Ukrainian citizens since March 3, 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. TPS for Sudanese refugees will also be extended. Other countries maintaining their TPS status include El Salvador and Lebanon. TPS for Ukrainian citizens was renewed on January 17, 2025, for an additional 18 months.
However, the U.S. has terminated TPS for various countries since March 2025, impacting around one million individuals across 13 nations, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Syria. The extension comes amid strained relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who have disagreed on multiple issues, including a diesel deal between Washington and Moscow.
Zelensky has criticized the easing of sanctions, stating it is "wrong" and expressing disappointment in Trump's decision.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
