DHS Grants Temporary Reprieve for Ukrainian and Sudanese Migrants

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided a temporary reprieve to over 100,000 Ukrainian and nearly 2,000 Sudanese migrants whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was set to expire on October 19, 2026[1][3][6]. This decision allows these individuals to remain in the United States and maintain their work authorization[2][11].

This action prevents potential deportation for thousands and allows them to continue working legally. However, the lack of formal updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on employment verification systems has created confusion for both the migrants and their employers[7][9][16].

What the records show

DHS spokespersons and alerts on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website confirmed that TPS beneficiaries from Ukraine and Sudan would "retain protection" as of the October 19, 2026, expiration date[4][5][10]. The agency's decision allows these individuals to maintain their legal residency and work authorization in the United States[2][18]. A formal extension or termination announcement, however, has not been published in the Federal Register, which is the standard procedure for such changes[2][11].

The timeline

Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainian and Sudanese migrants was scheduled to expire on October 19, 2026[1][3][6]. Leading up to this date and on the date itself, DHS and USCIS communicated that protections would continue, but they did not issue a formal Federal Register notice[4][5][10].

What changed and for whom

For over 100,000 Ukrainian and nearly 2,000 Sudanese migrants, the temporary reprieve means they can continue to live and work legally in the U.S., avoiding the expiration of their TPS protections and potential deportation[1][3][6][8]. Despite this, the absence of official updates to employer verification systems by USCIS has left migrants and employers unsure about how to proceed with employment authorization documents[7][9][14].

What the subject has said publicly

Advocacy groups have praised the temporary measure but stressed the need for long-term solutions, citing the unsafe conditions that persist in Ukraine and Sudan[19][24]. Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief, stated, "We're grateful for an extension, however temporary, for TPS holders from Ukraine and Sudan"[23][27]. Greene urged the administration and Congress to consider "longer term relief" for those unable to return home[23][27]. Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, affirmed that conditions in Ukraine and Sudan meet the legal criteria for TPS extensions, noting, "It is not safe for these families to go home"[23][26][27]. Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, emphasized that "forcing people to return to Ukraine in these circumstances is dangerous and a departure from longstanding U.S. policy"[25][28].

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm when, or if, USCIS plans to issue formal guidance updating its systems for Form I-9, E-Verify, or SAVE regarding the continued employment authorization for these TPS beneficiaries. The exact duration of this temporary reprieve was also not specified in the available records.