Senators Durbin, Menendez, Portman Lead Letter Urging Biden Administration to Designate Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today led 39 Senators in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.  

“In light of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly take all necessary steps to ensure that Ukrainian nationals present in the United States are not forced to return to Ukraine, including the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS),” the Senators wrote.  “As you know, TPS can be granted to nationals of another country who are currently residing in the United States if returning to their country would pose a serious threat to their personal safety because of ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.  TPS allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States legally until the expiration of the TPS designation.”

On February 24, Ukraine declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace to commercial flights after Russia launched a series of unprovoked military strikes against major Ukrainian cities with forces attacking by land, sea, and air. Russian forces have employed hundreds of missiles against military and civilian targets across Ukraine in clear violation of international law, and troops continue to push to overtake major cities, including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 353 civilians have been killed so far since the Russian invasion began. The United States has closed its embassy in Kyiv and all embassy personnel and their family members have left Ukraine in recent weeks.

Established by the U.S. Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS is a temporary, renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit for foreign nationals from certain countries who are unable to return safely to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. The decision to deny, withdraw, or terminate TPS is in the sole discretion of the U.S. government.

The Senators’ letter continues, “Granting TPS to the limited population of Ukrainians who are currently in the U.S. on a temporary basis will create a minimal disruption for our country, but forcing these individuals to return to a war zone would be unacceptable.  Forcing Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine in the midst of a war would be inconsistent with America’s values and our national security interests.  As a nation, we must do our part to protect the safety of Ukrainians in the United States by designating Ukraine for TPS.”

According to the Department of State, 29,510 nonimmigrant visas were issued to Ukrainian nationals in Fiscal Year 2020.

Joining Durbin, Menendez, and Portman in signing today’s letter include: U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

Full text of today’s letter is available here and below:

February 28, 2022

Dear President Biden:

In light of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly take all necessary steps to ensure that Ukrainian nationals present in the United States are not forced to return to Ukraine, including the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

As you know, TPS can be granted to nationals of another country who are currently residing in the United States if returning to their country would pose a serious threat to their personal safety because of ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States legally until the expiration of the TPS designation.

Ukraine clearly meets the standard for TPS as it is obviously too dangerous for Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict. On February 24, Ukraine declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace to commercial flights after Russia launched a series of military strikes against major Ukrainian cities with forces attacking by land, sea, and air. Russian forces have employed hundreds of missiles against military and civilian targets across Ukraine in clear violation of international law, and troops continue to push to overtake major cities, including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 353 civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion began, and a senior U.S. defense official has warned that Russia plans to decapitate the Ukrainian government. As you mentioned on February 23, “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.”

Given the dire situation in Ukraine, the United States has closed its embassy in Kyiv and all embassy personnel and their family members have left Ukraine in recent weeks. The most recent State Department travel advisory warns against travel to Ukraine due to armed conflict. The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees noted that the UN is “gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine” and highlighted that people are fleeing their homes to seek safety.

It is important to note that designating Ukraine for TPS will not endanger our security. A noncitizen is ineligible for TPS if the individual has a criminal background or poses a threat to national security. The decision to deny, withdraw, or terminate TPS is in the sole discretion of the U.S. government.  TPS does not make a beneficiary eligible for lawful permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship. When the TPS designation of a country is terminated, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they maintained before the designation.

Only a limited number of individuals who are present in the United States will be eligible for TPS, including students, business travelers, and tourists – none of whom can currently return safely to Ukraine. According to the Department of State, 29,510 nonimmigrant visas were issued to Ukrainian nationals in Fiscal Year 2020, the most recent year for which data is available. Granting TPS to the limited population of Ukrainians who are currently in the U.S. on a temporary basis will create a minimal disruption for our country, but forcing these individuals to return to a war zone would be unacceptable.

Forcing Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine in the midst of a war would be inconsistent with America’s values and our national security interests. As a nation, we must do our part to protect the safety of Ukrainians in the United States by designating Ukraine for TPS.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt reply.

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