The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) welcomes the decision made by the administration of President Joe Biden on the 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine.

This decision is expected to benefit around 75,000 Ukrainians in the U.S. TPS for Ukraine will provide work permits and protection from deportation for Ukrainian noncitizens in the United States who cannot be safely returned to Ukraine at this time. Last Friday, USCRI and partner organizations circulated a letter for NGO sign-on, which garnered 177 signatures, to the administration urging it to designate TPS for Ukraine.

The horrific events that have taken place in Ukraine in recent days speak volumes about the urgency of the decision. USCRI will continue to closely follow the developments in Ukraine and to advocate for the most pressing needs affecting refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. As part of USCRI’s response, we have launched a page on our website for resources for Ukraine. That page is available here.

“The U.S. government’s decision to designate TPS for Ukraine represents a step in the right direction during this very critical time,” USCRI CEO and President Eskinder Negash said. “We are committed to advocating for the rights and protection of all people forcibly displaced by the conflict.”

The growing awareness around TPS as a humanitarian tool, and how quickly the administration acted to designate it for Ukraine, are welcome developments. However, we recognize the many TPS country campaigns that have been unable to secure designations, including Ethiopia, Cameroon, Mauritania, Honduras and others. USCRI will continue to push for TPS designations in those countries.

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: aplazasrocha@uscrimail.org.