President Trump is likely to revoke the temporary legal status of 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, setting them up for possible deportation. This move is part of a wider initiative affecting millions of migrants and stems from ongoing tensions with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The processing of this revocation highlights a major shift in U.S. immigration policy under Trump’s administration.
President Donald Trump plans to revoke temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict caused by Russia’s invasion. This decision, expected to be enacted in April, aligns with Trump’s broader strategy to increase deportations, as reported by Reuters following weeks of escalating tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The potential revocation is part of a larger initiative to rescind temporary legal status for over 1.8 million migrants who entered the U.S. under humanitarian parole programs established by President Joe Biden. While neither the White House nor the Ukrainian embassy in Washington has responded to inquiries, this move could place many Ukrainians at risk of deportation.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals from countries facing serious dangers and conflicts. Under TPS, individuals are allowed to work in the U.S. without the threat of deportation. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas designated Ukraine for TPS shortly after the onset of the invasion in March 2022 and has since extended it through October 2026.
Trump has previously ordered the DHS to eliminate all categorical parole programs. Reports indicate that the administration may also strip temporary legal status from migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, impacting over 530,000 individuals. Additionally, approximately 77,000 Afghans who fled the Taliban could also be affected by this policy shift.
This action, should it proceed, would contradict Biden’s commitment to aiding Ukrainian refugees under the “Uniting for Ukraine” initiative. This program was created to support those significantly impacted by the war, allowing them to enter and reside temporarily in the U.S. at the invitation of American sponsors. Trump’s administration has recently emphasized the magnitude of deportations, claiming it is executing the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
The context of this decision is also intertwined with a recent confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy. During their meet last week, tensions escalated with Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelenskyy of disrespect. The meeting became heated when Zelenskyy rejected suggestions that Ukraine negotiate a peace deal with Putin. Trump has previously labeled Zelenskyy a “dictator” for allegedly avoiding elections, although he later softened that statement.
In summary, Trump’s administration is poised to revoke the temporary legal status of around 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, escalating deportation efforts. This revocation would occur amidst broader efforts to dismantle protections for over 1.8 million migrants under humanitarian parole programs. The implications threaten not only Ukrainian refugees but also those from several other nations, thus marking a significant shift in immigration policy.
Original Source: www.forbes.com
