The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the war with Russia, according to Reuters sources.
TPS is a special status granted to foreign nationals whose home countries are experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other emergencies. It allows individuals to live and work legally in the U.S. for a specified period, protecting them from deportation. However, it does not provide an automatic pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. If revoked, those affected will be considered illegal immigrants and subject to immediate deportation.
This move is part of a broader strategy to dismantle legal protections extended to over 1.8 million migrants under the Biden administration. The decision also comes amid growing tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who were accused by Trump and Vice President JD Vance of acting “disrespectfully” during their meeting at the White House two weeks ago. The White House has not commented on the situation, and the Department of Homeland Security merely stated, “There are no announcements at this time.”
An executive order signed by Trump on January 20 already mandated the cessation of all special entry programs. The revocation of these permits has affected around 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, leading to immediate consequences: the loss of legal status and fast-track deportation procedures. An internal email from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reviewed by Reuters, confirms that individuals who benefited from these programs could face removal without a time limit, even if they entered the U.S. legally but without official admission.
Biden’s immigration measures aimed to curb illegal immigration and offer humanitarian protection, but now thousands of people are at risk of being caught in a legal limbo. Among those affected are not only Ukrainians and Latin Americans but also more than 70,000 Afghans who fled the Taliban’s return to power, as well as one million migrants who planned to enter using the CBP One app.
During his campaign, Trump promised to eliminate TPS programs, and in January, his administration suspended the processing of renewal applications for those who entered under those permits.
Human rights organizations and pro-immigrant groups have already pledged to challenge the decision in court. According to the Migration Policy Institute, revoking TPS for Ukrainians would impact thousands of families who are well-integrated into American society, many of whom have children born in the U.S. Advocates argue that the new policy ignores the ongoing war in Ukraine, where returning refugees could face severe danger.
The European Union and some members of Congress, including moderate Republicans, have expressed concern over the decision’s potential impact.
