The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Ukrainian and Sudanese Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders will retain their protections while decisions remain pending, preserving their ability to live and work in the United States.
CBS News reported the DHS statement on Oct. 18. DHS notices issued in January 2025 had set Oct. 19, 2026, as the end of the existing designation periods for both countries. DHS said decisions on the designations would come “at the appropriate time.”
TPS shields eligible people from removal during a country’s designation and provides employment authorization. When DHS extended the Ukrainian and Sudanese designations in 2025, it cited armed conflict and other extraordinary conditions.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said Oct. 19 that Ukrainian TPS holders retained protection and work authorization. USCIS had not announced another end date for Ukraine, as detailed in earlier coverage of Ukrainian TPS protections.
Federal law provides a six-month extension if the homeland security secretary makes no determination that a country no longer qualifies for TPS. DHS has not said when it will announce its decisions on Ukraine and Sudan.
