U.S. preserves TPS for Ukrainians and Sudanese after scheduled October 19 expiration
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, October 19, that immigrants from Ukraine and Sudan currently in the United States will retain their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), even though the designation had been scheduled to expire that day. A DHS spokesperson said a final decision on the program's future would be announced "at the appropriate time" and that deportation protections remain in force until then. The move temporarily spares more than 100,000 Ukrainians and over 1,790 Sudanese nationals from losing legal status, contrasting with the Trump administration's broader crackdown on TPS for nationals of other countries.
Key points
- On October 19, DHS said Ukrainian and Sudanese immigrants may retain their TPS while a final decision is prepared.
- A DHS spokesperson said announcements on the program would be made "at the appropriate time" and that protections remain in force until then.
- TPS for both Ukraine and Sudan was set to expire on October 19.
- Federal data from March 2025 showed more than 100,000 Ukrainians and over 1,790 Sudanese nationals enrolled in TPS.
- The Trump administration has revoked TPS for nationals of multiple countries, including Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, and Venezuela.
- In June, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to end TPS for hundreds of thousands from Haiti and Syria.
- On September 22, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators urged DHS and the State Department against ending TPS for Ukrainians, citing their role in transportation, healthcare, and construction.
Why it matters
The decision directly affects more than 100,000 Ukrainians and over 1,790 Sudanese nationals in the United States, who can continue living and working legally without immediate threat of deportation. It stands in sharp contrast to the Trump administration's broader policy of revoking TPS for nationals of countries including Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. For Ukrainians, the preservation of status is particularly significant given the ongoing war at home and concerns among neighboring countries about a possible new refugee wave this winter.
What happened
On Monday, October 19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that immigrants from Ukraine and Sudan currently in the United States may retain their Temporary Protected Status, even though the designation had been scheduled to expire that day. A DHS spokesperson said that announcements regarding the future of TPS for citizens of Ukraine and Sudan would be made "at the appropriate time" and that, until then, deportation protections remain in force. As of March 2025, federal data showed more than 100,000 Ukrainians and over 1,790 Sudanese nationals enrolled in the program. Politico had previously reported that the administration was seeking a way to avoid deporting Ukrainians after the October 19 expiration.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian-language media framed the story primarily from the perspective of Ukrainians in the United States, emphasizing the scale of the affected population and the practical implications of continued deportation protection. Several outlets also highlighted the regional dimension: Polish National Security Bureau head Bartosz Grodecki said Poland already has experience hosting Ukrainian refugees but hoped there would not be a new wave, while Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her country was ready to accept a new flow of refugees if Ukraine faces a severe humanitarian situation this winter.
Where reporting differs
Estimates of how many Ukrainians and Sudanese are enrolled in TPS vary. Federal data as of March 2025 showed more than 100,000 Ukrainians and over 1,790 Sudanese nationals in the program. A separate source citing Reuters reported approximately 240,000 Ukrainians and about 6,800 Sudanese TPS holders. The discrepancy appears across the Ukrainian outlets reporting the story.
Background
TPS is a U.S. program allowing nationals of countries affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances to remain in the United States and work legally. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has ended TPS for nationals of multiple countries, including a June Supreme Court ruling that allowed revocation for hundreds of thousands from Haiti and Syria. Earlier in 2025, the administration applied a similar interim approach to Salvadoran TPS holders, preserving protection while a final decision was being prepared. On September 22, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators wrote to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arguing that Ukrainians form a significant share of workers in U.S. transportation, healthcare, and construction sectors and that ending TPS could raise costs for American consumers. Some lawmakers supported a fallback option of allowing the status to lapse without formal rescission, which would trigger an automatic six-month extension.