The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) welcomes today’s decision by the Biden administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18-months. The extension will continue to protect approximately 26,000 current TPS beneficiaries and the redesignation will offer protection to an estimated 166,700 Ukrainian nationals who more recently arrived in the United States.

In a letter published August 11, 2023, USCRI joined five leading organizations calling on the administration to extend and redesignate TPS for Ukraine for 18-months. The letter detailed how armed conflict in Ukraine further escalated in 2023, and the devastating impacts on the civilian population that make safe return impossible.

“With this decision, the administration has taken concrete action to use TPS in its full capacity as a life-saving humanitarian tool,” said USCRI President and CEO Eskinder Negash. “The situation in Ukraine remains dire. Forcing people back into war and trauma would be an abandonment of our responsibility to protect. This redesignation is a critical step in continuing to provide safety for Ukrainian nationals in the United States.”

USCRI looks forward to the timely publication of a Federal Register Notice, a public information campaign to notify the impacted community of the decision, as well as prompt adjudication of pending TPS applications.

“The consequences of delayed relief and protection are far too great. The administration must use this momentum to ensure swift implementation and access for the affected population,” added Mr. Negash. “This decision should represent a commitment to protection for all. We call on the Biden administration to immediately grant TPS to countries that have long awaited a designation, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Mauritania.”

USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.

For press inquiries, please contact: media@uscrimail.org