For the next 18 months, Ukrainians already in the United States will be allowed to remain in the country and work without fear of deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that protects foreign nationals from deportation to countries that have undergone natural or human-made disasters.
“Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.
“In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States,” he added.
The Biden administration had earlier vowed not to deport people to Ukraine, Russia and seven other European countries in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The TPS designation comes after significant political pressure from top Democrats and some Republicans, who had called on President Biden to include Ukraine in the humanitarian program.
