US decides on continued stay for Ukrainian refugees
The administration of US President Donald Trump has allowed Ukrainians in the country under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program to retain their right to stay and protection from deportation. The decision was made on the eve of the expiration of the program's current period, which was ending on October 19, 2026.
CBS News reported this, citing the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The information was also confirmed by The Washington Post and other American outlets.
A department spokesperson said that until a final decision is made, Ukrainian citizens who already have TPS will retain the protection provided by the program. A similar decision was made regarding individuals from Sudan.
However, US authorities have not yet announced the exact duration of the program's extension. DHS limited itself to stating that relevant announcements will be made later.
Decision affects more than 100,000 Ukrainians
According to American media, about 101,000 Ukrainian citizens have temporary protected status. The program allows foreigners who cannot safely return to their home country due to war or other extraordinary circumstances to remain legally in the US and obtain work authorization.
Ukraine was added to the TPS program in the spring of 2022 after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. In January 2025, the Joe Biden administration extended the protection for 18 months — until October 19, 2026.
The new DHS statement means that Ukrainians with valid TPS do not lose protection from deportation because of this date.
However, uncertainty remains regarding documentation confirming work eligibility. Earlier, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) noted that certain work permits automatically extended under TPS would expire on October 19.
New official instructions on further confirmation of work authorization have not yet been published. Therefore, employers and Ukrainian employees may face questions about the validity of existing documents after this date.
US authorities have not yet confirmed a full extension of the program
As The Washington Post writes, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington expects the TPS to be extended for another six months. However, the US Department of Homeland Security has not officially confirmed such a timeframe.
Immigration lawyers note that US law provides for an automatic six-month extension of TPS if authorities do not make a timely decision to terminate it. Nevertheless, official clarifications on how this mechanism applies to Ukrainians remain necessary.
In recent weeks, American lawmakers from both parties have urged the Trump administration to maintain protection for Ukrainian citizens.
They pointed out that returning people to Ukraine remains dangerous due to the ongoing war, and revoking TPS would affect American businesses that employ Ukrainians.
The Trump administration has previously terminated or initiated termination of temporary protection for citizens of several other countries, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Syria. However, in September, authorities maintained a similar program for citizens of El Salvador without announcing a final decision on its future.
Whom does the decision affect
Retaining protection applies to Ukrainian citizens already in the US with TPS status. This does not mean automatic granting of such status to all Ukrainians on American soil.
The TPS program also differs from the humanitarian program Uniting for Ukraine (U4U). Having a humanitarian parole for entry and temporary stay does not itself mean obtaining TPS. However, some U4U participants may have additionally secured protected status by meeting established requirements.
TPS does not provide an automatic path to permanent residence or US citizenship.
Thus, Ukrainians already covered by the program currently retain protection from deportation. The final duration and procedures for confirming work authorization are to be clarified by US authorities.
Sources: CBS News, The Washington Post, Reuters, USCIS.
