Over 100,000 Ukrainians in U.S. could lose temporary protection; decision is expected by October 19, - Politico
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has until October 19 to decide whether to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 100,000 Ukrainians who have fled to the United States due to the war.
According to Censor.NET, Politico reports on this.
Possible scenarios include the continuation of the status, its revocation, or an automatic six-month extension, which would leave the issues of legal employment and education unresolved.
What options are being considered in the U.S.?
According to the publication, lawmakers from both parties hope that the Trump administration will extend the temporary protection for Ukrainians. At the same time, some politicians are considering an alternative scenario—allowing the status to expire without an official decision to revoke it.
In that case, a mechanism for automatically extending protection for six months may be triggered. This will allow Ukrainians to avoid the immediate threat of deportation, but it will create uncertainty regarding their right to work and study.
At the same time, some advocates of strict immigration policies in Congress are demanding that the administration end all temporary protection programs.
Ukrainians may be left in limbo
As Politico notes, a compromise solution could allow the White House to avoid a public backlash over the possible deportation of Ukrainians to a country where a war is ongoing. At the same time, it could satisfy opponents of immigration programs.
One of the publication’s sources in Congress, who is familiar with the course of the discussions, stated that the political implications of such a decision play an important role.
"The significant negative political backlash that an attempt by the administration to deport Ukrainians would provoke is the main factor here. Keeping them in limbo as Salvadoran citizens is wrong, but it may become the most likely scenario for the administration," he said.
According to Politico, Washington's decision is also influenced by the overall state of U.S.-Ukrainian relations.
"Right now, there is no incentive to do anything positive for Ukraine. Everything related to Ukraine operates within the framework of broader bilateral relations, and, in essence, nothing has changed under Trump," said another source interviewed by the publication.
Senators Warn of Economic Consequences
Advocates for Ukrainians and some U.S. lawmakers are calling for a full extension of TPS. Among their arguments are the potential negative consequences for the U.S. economy if Ukrainians lose their legal status.
On September 22, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Wayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The statement notes that Ukrainians with TPS status work, in particular, in the transportation, healthcare, and construction sectors in the United States.
According to the senators, a mass loss of legal status could lead to a shortage of skilled workers and higher costs for American consumers.
A proposal has been made in Congress to extend the protection through 2029
At the same time, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Congress that would extend temporary protection for Ukrainians through 2029.
However, the administration has not yet announced a final decision on the program's future.
According to the publication, the Ukrainian government has not officially commented on this issue, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request from Politico reporters.
