US extends deportation reprieve for Ukrainian and Sudanese migrants

Over 100,000 migrants retain temporary protection amid uncertainty over future

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Updated20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The US Department of Homeland Security has granted a temporary reprieve from deportation to more than 100,000 migrants from Ukraine and Sudan, allowing them to remain in the country after their temporary protected status was set to expire on Monday. The department said in a statement that Ukrainians and Sudanese covered by the measures retain protection but did not specify how long the reprieve will last or when a final decision will be made.

The decision affects approximately 101,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese whose TPS was scheduled to end on Monday. The DHS announcement comes after activists and lawmakers raised concerns about safety conditions in both countries, which remain embroiled in armed conflict. Ukraine was first designated for TPS in April 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion, while Sudan’s TPS program has been in place since 1997 due to ongoing conflict and instability.

The Trump administration has previously terminated TPS for over a million people from 13 countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Afghanistan. However, this marks another instance where the administration has allowed protections to continue without setting a clear timeline, following a similar reprieve for nearly 200,000 Salvadorians in September.

Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope For Ukraine, called the move "last-minute patches" and urged the US to provide a path to permanent residency. "It's time for US to come up with some normal path to permanent residency for all these people," he said, noting that Ukrainians cannot safely return home.

Andrew Arthur, an immigration expert at the Center for Immigration Studies, said the government faces no deadline and will eventually decide. "It's simply going to be an extension until it is a termination," he said, adding that the secretary is within his authority to continue TPS for countries experiencing armed conflict.

The announcement comes two weeks before the US midterm elections, where immigration policies are expected to be a key issue.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The reprieve affects over 100,000 migrants but leaves them in legal limbo without a permanent solution to their status.
It highlights the Trump administration's mixed approach on immigration, combining hardline policies with last-minute extensions.
The decision could influence voter sentiment in the upcoming midterm elections, where immigration is a central issue.

Background

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a US program that allows migrants from countries experiencing conflict or disaster to stay and work. Ukraine was designated for TPS in 2022 after Russia's invasion, while Sudan's TPS has been repeatedly renewed since 1997 due to ongoing armed conflict and instability. The Trump administration has previously moved to end TPS for many nations but has recently granted short-term reprieves.

Key Perspectives

Yuriy Boyechko (Hope For Ukraine): Sees the extension as an inadequate "bandage" and calls for a permanent path to residency, emphasizing that migrants cannot safely return to Ukraine.
Andrew Arthur (Center for Immigration Studies): Views the reprieve as temporary and expects eventual termination, noting the administration's legal authority to extend TPS.
Activists and lawmakers: Have pushed for continuation due to unsafe conditions in home countries, while the administration has not committed to a long-term solution.

What to Watch

Whether the DHS issues a final decision on the status of Ukrainian and Sudanese TPS holders before or after the midterms.
The impact of the midterm elections on US immigration policy and enforcement priorities.
Any changes in the security situations in Ukraine or Sudan that could affect future TPS designations.

Sources

US grants deportation reprieve to migrants from Ukraine and Sudan · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedHeadline: the US "extends" a deportation reprieve for Ukrainian and Sudanese migrants.World news | The Guardian: “The department did not indicate how long they could stay or when a final announcement would be made on their status.”
SupportedSummary: over 100,000 migrants retain temporary protection amid uncertainty over the future.World news | The Guardian: “Ukrainians and Sudanese in the US covered by those temporary measures “retain protection”.”
SupportedThe DHS has granted a reprieve to more than 100,000 migrants from Ukraine and Sudan, whose protected status was due to end Monday.World news | The Guardian: “Temporary protected status was set to end on Monday for about 101,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese.”
SupportedThe DHS statement said Ukrainians and Sudanese covered by the measures retain protection, but did not specify how long the reprieve will last or when a final decision will be made.World news | The Guardian: “The department did not indicate how long they could stay or when a final announcement would be made on their status.”
Partly supportedThe DHS announcement comes after activists and lawmakers raised concerns about safety conditions in both countries.World news | The Guardian: “Activists and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have been raising the alarm over the upcoming deadline for TPS to expire for Ukrainians, arguing that conditions remain unsafe for them to return home amid the war with Russia.”
SupportedBoyechko, CEO of Hope For Ukraine, called the move "last-minute patches".World news | The Guardian: ““last-minute patches””
SupportedBoyechko: "It's time for US to come up with some normal path to permanent residency for all these people."World news | The Guardian: ““It’s time for US to come up with some normal path to permanent residency for all these people,” Boyechko noted.”
SupportedAndrew Arthur, immigration expert at the Center for Immigration Studies, said: "It's simply going to be an extension until it is a termination."World news | The Guardian: ““It’s simply going to be an extension until it is a termination,” he said.”
Partly supportedArthur said the secretary is within his authority to continue TPS for countries experiencing armed conflict.World news | The Guardian: ““It’s beyond cavil that both Sudan and Ukraine are experiencing ongoing armed conflict, and therefore the secretary is well within his authority to continue TPS for each of them.””
SupportedThe Trump administration has terminated TPS for over a million people from 13 countries, including Venezuela, Haiti and Afghanistan.World news | The Guardian: “The Trump administration has already terminated TPS for more than 1 million people from 13 countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Syria.”
Partly supportedA similar reprieve for nearly 200,000 Salvadorians came in September.World news | The Guardian: “the administration kept protections in place for nearly 200,000 Salvadorians whose TPS was set to expire on 9 September”
SupportedThe announcement comes two weeks before the US midterm elections, where immigration policies are expected to be a key issue.World news | The Guardian: “Monday’s decision comes two weeks before the midterm elections, when Trump’s hard line immigration policies will face a test at the ballot box.”

Corrections

20 October 2026An earlier version of this story quoted Yuriy Boyechko as describing the move as a "last-minute patch". He described it as "last-minute patches".

20 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the affected migrants’ temporary protected status was scheduled to end on 20 October. It was scheduled to end on Monday.