The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Ukrainians and Sudanese citizens with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) can, for now, remain in the country and work legally. Further decisions regarding these categories will be announced ‘in due course’, the department said.
What rights does the TPS programme provide
Temporary Protected Status allows individuals who are already in the United States to remain in the country and work legally if their homeland has suffered natural disasters, is experiencing armed conflict, or other extraordinary circumstances have arisen. The programme applies to people already present in the United States, not to those planning to enter.
This is the second instance in the past two months in which certain categories of immigrants have been allowed to retain protection under the TPS programme. At the same time, the department emphasised that the administration continues to pursue a policy of tightening immigration controls and deportations of foreign nationals.
How many people have this status and in what circumstances the decision was made
The department said that about 240,000 Ukrainians registered for TPS after fleeing the war. Among Sudanese citizens there are approximately 6,800 holders of this status in the United States.
The decisions on Ukrainians and Sudanese were taken against the backdrop of recent shifts in US foreign policy towards Ukraine: in recent days the administration has declined to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel exports. Further steps on TPS will be announced ‘in due course’, the department added.
