Over 100,000 Ukrainians in US retain deportation protections for now as deadline passes
More than 100,000 Ukrainians living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will retain their protection from deportation for now, despite the program's scheduled expiration on October 19, CNN reported, citing the Department of Homeland Security.
A DHS spokesperson told CNN that announcements concerning TPS for Ukraine and Sudan "will be made at the appropriate time." Until then, nationals of both countries covered by the program will continue to receive protection.
The statement does not amount to a formal extension of TPS, leaving uncertainty over how long the protections will remain in place.
TPS allows eligible foreign nationals from countries affected by war, natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies to live and work temporarily in the United States without facing deportation.
According to federal data, more than 100,000 Ukrainians and approximately 1,790 Sudanese nationals were enrolled in the program as of March 2025.
The Trump administration has terminated TPS designations for several countries as part of its broader immigration crackdown. In June, the US Supreme Court allowed the administration to end temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of nationals of Haiti and Syria.
In September, a bipartisan group of US senators urged the administration to preserve protections for Ukrainians, warning that their removal from the American workforce could affect transportation, healthcare and construction and increase costs for US consumers.
For now, Ukrainians covered by TPS can continue living and working in the United States while awaiting a formal decision on the program's future.
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