US grants temporary reprieve to Ukrainian and Sudanese migrants facing deportation deadline
The Department of Homeland Security said over 100,000 people from Ukraine and Sudan can remain in the country without immediate deportation risk, though no timeline was provided for a final decision.
What happened
The DHS announced on Monday that approximately 101,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese covered by Temporary Protected Status would retain their protections beyond the expiration date, without specifying duration or issuing a final status determination. The department stated a decision "will be made at the appropriate time" but did not clarify whether beneficiaries can retain work permits, though TPS generally permits employment while protections remain in effect. This follows the Trump administration's prior termination of TPS for over 1 million people from 13 countries including Venezuela, Haiti, and Syria, though it maintained protections for nearly 200,000 Salvadorians under similar indefinite extension language in September.
Context
Ukraine was designated for TPS in April 2022 following Russia's invasion, with the Biden administration most recently extending it through October 2026 in January 2025. Sudan's program dates to 1997 and has been repeatedly extended due to ongoing armed conflict. The indefinite reprieve leaves beneficiaries in legal limbo—protected from immediate deportation but without certainty on work authorization or future status. Humanitarian advocates argue this approach is insufficient, calling for permanent residency pathways, while immigration experts note the administration faces no legal deadline and can extend protection indefinitely given documented armed conflict in both countries. Monday's decision comes two weeks before midterm elections, when Trump's immigration policies face voter scrutiny.