The United States Department of Homeland Security will grant Ukrainians in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status (TPS).Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new extension for 18 months on Thursday.
The news comes just days after 42 U.S. senators drafted a letter to President Joe Biden, signed by Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, saying that the ongoing Russian military offensive in Ukraine has made it “too dangerous” for deportees to return.
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“Ukraine clearly meets the standard for TPS as it is obviously too dangerous for Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict,” the letter reads.
If approved roughly 29,500 Ukrainians, who are not permanent U.S. residents could be affected, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The push has been led by Democratic chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Dick Durbin, Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Bob Menendez and the Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee Sen. Rob Portman.
The United Nations reported 227 civilians had been killed and 525 injured between Feb. 24 and March 1, but added its numbers are likely undercounts. The bipartisan letter to the president, that quotes Ukrainian officials, puts the number at 353 civilians killed since the Russian invasion.
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