Now in its fifth year of full-scale war, Ukraine faces catastrophic threats of annexation and unmitigated destruction from Russia’s escalating assault on civilian targets. This year, the United Nations reported a sharp spike in casualties driven by intensified long-range missile and drone attacks, with July and August 2026 being the deadliest phase of the war since early 2022.
Russia’s relentless attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to remain abroad longer than expected. Up to 510,000 Ukrainian nationals are estimated to be living in the United States on temporary statuses. A significant proportion of those who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion are young women, students, mothers with children, elderly, and disabled individuals who face heightened risk of exploitation.
Unfortunately, many Ukrainians who sought shelter in the United States are now stuck in limbo as their temporary statuses expire while they await renewals that may never come. As a result, many could soon lose their employment authorization, while others have already lost their jobs, benefits, and housing. Between lengthy application processing delays, expiring legal statuses, shrinking immigration pathways, and increasingly aggressive enforcement operations, many Ukrainians are fearful about their safety in the United States.
But returning home is not an option for most of these Ukrainians. Right now, no part of Ukraine is safe. This includes major cities as well as key ports throughout the country. The State Department warns that even western and non-frontline regions remain subject to Russian missile and drone attacks. In addition to the threat of launched explosives, enemy occupation, and environmental hazards, Ukraine faces constant electricity and water shortages following intensive strikes, leaving millions without heat as fall approaches. Finally, hospitals and other medical facilities are frequently targeted, destroying critical equipment and preventing those seriously ill and injured from receiving lifesaving treatment.
The United Nations estimates that almost 11 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2026, as civilian casualties are expected to exceed the deadly record set in 2025. Returning Ukrainians to these conditions would not only subject them to immediate harm, but it would further strain an overwhelmed humanitarian system and destabilize international relief efforts.
Unfortunately, they could soon lose their protections in the United States. Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was not redesignated, keeping those who arrived after the 2023 cutoff date without access. Even Ukrainians who already have TPS are only protected through April 2027, since the Department of Homeland Security has yet to take any action to formally extend it. Meanwhile, re-parole and work permit renewals for those who entered on Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) are subject to considerable delays and technical issues, with some parolees waiting 8-14 months or longer. Moreover, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are only valid for one year, forcing parolees to re-apply annually and keep paying high fees. And, with the skyrocketing costs of re-parole and work permits, not everyone can afford these applications, forcing some families to make difficult choices.
While the clock runs out on their temporary protections, few Ukrainians have been able to pursue permanent immigration pathways. Most lack qualifying sponsors for family-based visas, while those who have ready and willing employer sponsors face procedural restrictions on employment-based visas, which often require consular processing abroad. Additionally, the diversity visa lottery is indefinitely suspended, cutting off a key route for Ukrainians to seek green cards. Likewise, asylum is not a viable relief for most Ukrainians due to its narrow legal eligibility. On top of this, USCIS is increasingly denying re-parole, TPS, adjustment of status, and other immigration requests, which frequently leads to removal proceedings.
Consequently, a growing number of vulnerable Ukrainians are at risk of becoming undocumented, losing their livelihoods, being placed in detention, and even getting deported.
Those who sought refuge here deserve a chance to live in safety, provide for themselves and their families, contribute to communities that welcomed them, and pursue more stable futures in the United States. Congress and the administration can take steps to help safeguard protections and promote the well-being of Ukrainians who can’t return home. These include extending and redesignating Ukraine’s TPS, expediting re-parole and work permit applications, advancing legislation that offers pathways to lawful status, and adopting less aggressive policies toward law abiding Ukrainians who comply with all their immigration requirements and pose no danger to their communities.
Learn more and share our report summarizing the current threats and proposed solutions to help Ukrainians stay here safely.
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