Republican Senators Urge Trump Administration to Extend Ukraine TPS Amid Ongoing War

Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have jointly appealed to the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to prolong Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians, a program covering roughly 101,000 individuals and set to lapse on October 19. In their letter, they emphasize that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine creates a humanitarian emergency and that sending TPS holders back to the war zone would be unjust.

They cite the economic impact of Ukrainian workers, estimated at billions of dollars annually, as a reason to maintain the protection. Their plea arrives as the Trump administration has been rolling back TPS designations for Haiti, Venezuela, Ethiopia and Nicaragua, though it has made limited extensions for Lebanon and El Salvador. The ultimate decision will be made by Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and an extension could also allow new arrivals after October 20 to qualify. The senators' stance marks a notable shift within the GOP, which has largely supported ending TPS for other nations.