Ukrainians in the US keep TPS for now: what it means and what to expect

What happened

On 19 October — the day the current designation was due to expire — the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Ukrainians and Sudanese with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) can keep it for now. As Reuters reported, a DHS spokesperson said announcements on TPS holders from both countries would be made “at the appropriate time” and that their immigration protections remain in place.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) page on Ukraine now carries an alert: until such an announcement is made, Ukrainians present in the US under TPS retain protection, including work authorisation. At the same time, the table on the same page still lists the designation as running through 19 October 2026.

How many people are affected

According to Reuters, some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the war have registered for TPS in the US. The Philadelphia Inquirer puts the number of Ukrainians currently protected at about 101,000. The difference probably reflects different categories — those who registered versus current status holders. About 6,800 Sudanese nationals also hold TPS.

TPS allows foreigners already in the US to stay and work legally if their home country is affected by armed conflict, natural disaster or other extraordinary conditions. It does not provide a path to citizenship or permanent residence.

The history of the status

Ukraine was first designated for TPS on 19 April 2022, shortly after the full-scale invasion began. The current designation has been in effect since 20 October 2023. In January 2025, under the previous administration, DHS extended it for 18 months — from 20 April 2025 to 19 October 2026 — and it was this period that was due to expire on Monday. To qualify, applicants had to have resided continuously in the US since at least August 2023.

The second last-minute reprieve in months

Reuters notes that this is the second such temporary reprieve in recent months. In September Donald Trump’s administration allowed Salvadorans to keep their protection at the last minute — about 170,000 people, according to the Inquirer — but has not announced any follow-up decision. Earlier, the administration ended TPS for nationals of Haiti, Venezuela, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and other countries.

The decision on Ukrainians comes as relations between Washington and Kyiv cool: in recent days Trump declined to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and lifted restrictions on Russian diesel exports.

Lawyers: a written decision is needed

Immigration lawyers quoted by the Inquirer argue that, by law, the lack of advance notice automatically triggered a six-month extension of TPS. The administration, however, has not confirmed this. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the nonprofit Global Refuge, welcomed the respite but urged an official decision: “The appropriate time to act was weeks ago. Families who depend on this status to stay safe and keep working deserve a formal decision in writing.”

Trump and his allies, for their part, argue that TPS has become a back door to continuous residency and that “temporary” should mean temporary.

What TPS holders should do

• regularly check the TPS Ukraine page on the USCIS website and official DHS announcements;
• keep copies of status and work permit documents and, if needed, show employers the official USCIS alert;
• consult a licensed immigration attorney or accredited organisation before any travel outside the US or change of status;
• beware of scammers promising a “guaranteed” extension for a fee.