Ukrainian immigrants in Sacramento face uncertainty as TPS deadline approaches
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Gaylena Shpilman and her family left their homeland four years ago, enduring a perilous journey to safety.
“We drove between mines and some cars were destroyed. It’s hard,” Shpilman said.
The family spent five months in Poland before being sponsored by Sacramento residents to come to the United States.
“The U.S. welcomed them. Granted, they welcomed them as long as a group of local people would support them, and we were happy to do that. But the U.S. welcomed them, and now, they’re not being welcomed anymore, and neither are the people from 39 countries,” said Bruce Patt, one of the sponsors.
California is home to approximately 60,000 Ukrainian immigrants, many of whom, like Shpilman, are in the country under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). As they await clarity about their immigration status, many are concerned about what will happen on October 19, the date U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) currently lists as the end of the program.
“In the next few weeks, I’ll maybe lose my job. If I lose my job, what am I going to do? I need to pay rent. I need to keep life my children. I need to eat,” Shpilman said.
Federal law required the Department of Homeland Security to decide by August 20 whether to extend, re-designate, or terminate TPS for Ukraine. No decision was announced by that deadline, triggering an automatic six-month extension under federal law through April 19, 2027. However, USCIS has not provided clear guidance on how that extension affects employment documents.
“Because of the backlogs that we’re seeing and the lack of ability to receive timely status through another form of relief, that’s going to leave individuals in this state of limbo where they’re not able to work while they’re waiting for their status,” said Jims Porter of Opening Doors.
Shpilman, who now resides in Sacramento, said her family has also applied for re-parole through the Uniting for Ukraine program.
“I don’t want to think about it. But yes, the next day I lose my job. I hope my children continue to go to school if they have next six months legal status in the U.S. for TPS,” Shpilman said.
While this is a concerning time for Ukrainians under TPS, Porter adds, “Expiring TPS doesn’t mean that they will immediately be deported from the US or that they’ll immediately not be able to remain here, but it does create a problem as they seek other ways to remain here safely.”
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler sent the following statement to KCRA:
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is actively processing discretionary re-parole cases, including those for Ukrainians, on a case-by-case basis as the law intends. Under this administration, all aliens are undergoing intense screening and vetting to better protect the safety and security of the American people.”
USCIS adds that any potential actions related to the future of TPS will be announced on their website.
A bipartisan group of 30 senators, including California Senator Adam Schiff, is urging the Trump administration to extend and re-designate TPS for Ukrainians. They are requesting an 18-month extension.
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