The United States on Friday extended the protection for Ukrainian citizens for 18 more months as an extension of Temporary Protection Status (TPS). This TPS will temporarily allow Ukrainians to stay in the US for 18 more months. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to protect individuals eligible for TPS from being deported. This decision also allows the citizens of the “country at war” to apply for work permits. The TPS was initially granted to Ukrainians in March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

On Friday, there was an extension along with a TPS re-designation for Ukraine. This allows individuals in the US by August 16 to apply for protected status. In a statement, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the need for the United States to provide safety and protection to Ukrainians who may be unable to return to their country due to the ongoing military invasion by Russia and the growing humanitarian crisis. “We will keep providing our assistance to Ukrainian citizens through this temporary humanitarian relief.” the Secretary added.

Russia’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis requires that the United States continue to offer safety and protection to Ukrainians who may not be able to return to their country. https://t.co/OC8gcv9CxX pic.twitter.com/iyMAZ7519U

— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) August 18, 2023

The directive issued on Friday has made the rules elastic for Ukrainian students studying in the US on visas. They can now work more and take fewer classes. As per the department’s instructions, those who want to renew their status must register again with the DHS between August 21 and October 20. The department has announced that approximately 26,000 individuals will be impacted by the extension, while an estimated 166,700 more people will become eligible for TPS due to the re-designation.

Russian Invasion Is Biggest In EU Since WWII, DHS

The invasion by the Russia Military caused millions of people to evacuate from their places as the Kremlin destroyed everything coming their way. Although the fighting has mainly been confined to the eastern parts of Ukraine, some Ukrainians returned to their country. However, there are also many who still remain in neighboring European countries and around the world. Last Friday, the Department of Homeland Security referred to the conflict in Ukraine as the biggest military operation in Europe after World War II.

According to the department, the military invasion by Russia has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties and numerous reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian military forces and officials. The Russian invasion has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with a large number of people fleeing and civilian infrastructure being damaged. This has left many with insufficient supplies of medical services and electricity.

The US government provides protection to individuals who are unable to return to their home countries due to armed conflict, natural disasters, or other exceptional circumstances through the TPS program. However, this status does not provide a route to obtaining permanent citizenship in the United States. At present, the United States has identified 16 nations for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Sudan, Venezuela, and Syria.

US Allows Netherlands To Supply F-16s To Ukraine And Train Pilots

American Government has not only supported Ukrainian citizens in favor of  living safely in America, but it has also aided much in fighting against Russia. Most Ukrainian allies, including the United States, have struggled to support Ukraine in its war against Kremlin forces. Now, America has allowed the Netherlands to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. On Friday, the Dutch Defense Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, said that the supply of F-16s fighter jets would be a significant addition to Kyiv forces but would not create an immediate effect as the war has been happening for almost 18 months.

The minister further thanked the US for the clear decision to open the way to provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets. Kajsa Ollongren expressed her appreciation for the US decision to allow the delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. This decision enables the training of Ukrainian pilots to proceed as planned. Ollongren shared this message on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and reassured that they are maintaining close communication with European partners to determine the next action.