Ukrainian Refugees in the U.S. Face Uncertain Future with TPS Deadline Approaching

Yaryna Levchuk exemplifies someone deeply committed to work, intertwining it with her identity. When war erupted in Ukraine four and a half years ago, the seasoned pharmacist took on volunteering to manage medical aid, alongside her regular duties. After fleeing to the U.S., she quickly began working in Chicago as soon as regulations permitted. She has meticulously adhered to immigration deadlines, prioritizing work as vital for her family and her sense of pride.

However, recent shifts in policies and processing delays have impacted her ability to maintain employment. Similar concerns loom for her husband, bringing uncertainty to their family’s stability in the U.S.

We do not demand. We’re just friendly asking, if it’s possible, please help us. Just give us permission to work and we will work. Levchuk expressed to the Tribune.

Currently, the temporary protected status (TPS) for over 100,000 Ukrainians seeking refuge due to Russia’s invasion hangs in balance. These humanitarian protections were set to expire on Monday. Refugees nationwide face anxiety over its expiration and its effects on their ability to work, study, and support families. Deportation risks also weigh heavily.

The Trump administration reportedly announced on Sunday the continuation of TPS for Ukrainians, pending a final decision. This last-minute development hints at an announcement at an “appropriate time,” leaving many Ukrainians in limbo. Until concrete information surfaces, uncertainty and fear permeate among refugees and advocates.

Meanwhile, efforts to find alternative protections for Ukrainians encounter stalled processing times. Broader political dynamics arise as Russia intensifies its attacks and U.S.-Ukraine relations worsen. Anticipations of reduced U.S. assistance to Ukraine could extend to TPS concerns, warns a familiar senate aide.

Prior to the deadline, Levchuk lost her work authorization last month, impacting her role as a pharmacy technician. She remains uncertain of her husband’s employment future.

Levchuk, at 41, has deep-rooted connections to Ukraine. Five years ago, she managed a pharmacy near Poland’s border with her family. Before war erupted, her U.S.-resident sister warned of imminent conflict based on news. Skeptical, yet prepared, Levchuk secured arrangements for her mother to take her children abroad if necessary.

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Though her husband urged her to flee with their children, Levchuk opted to stay due to her pharmacist role. Her mother and children crossed to Poland, and Levchuk anticipated a short-lived conflict, which extended. Her children’s distance grew unbearable.

My husband told me, ‘You have to go to them. You have to go to them because they can’t sleep without you,’ Levchuk recalled emotionally.

Ensuring her family’s security, Levchuk departed for Poland. Yet staying became challenging; her husband faced health issues. Encouraged by her sister, they eventually migrated to the U.S. via Uniting for Ukraine (U4U).

About Uniting for Ukraine (U4U)

Launched by President Joe Biden in 2022, U4U provides humanitarian parole, allowing temporary U.S. residency and work with sponsorship for two-year periods. Upon arriving in September 2022, Levchuk’s priority was employment. Despite language barriers and lacking transport, she secured a pharmacy technician position, alongside her husband when they moved to Buffalo Grove.

Gradually adapting, Levchuk pursued credentials to practice pharmacy in America. “Work for me, it’s not just about money,” she remarked. “It’s what I do to be happy and to make other people happy.”

In 2024, their first U4U parole expired. She promptly applied for renewal, maintaining her protection concerns. She sought TPS, which overlaps with U4U, explained Nicole Hallett from the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School.

Established in 1990, TPS enables legal stay and work for individuals from unsafe homelands. Issued by Homeland Security, TPS is momentarily granted for designated nationalities ranging six to 18 months.

Initially granted post-invasion, TPS was extended by the Biden administration in August 2023. Levchuk applied under such eligibility, experiencing complexities within the process. Her appeal pending since February 2025 complicates her securing TPS-related work authorization until finalization.

Total reliance on humanitarian parole contributes to vulnerabilities, exacerbated by President Trump’s executive order halting parole programs. Despite resumed U4U processing following a May 2025 court mandate, delays persist.

Levchuk’s husband awaits TPS application decisions. In the interim, he’s secured work eligibility. Yet TPS, as noted by Hallett, should automatically extend for six months post-expiry if untouched by Homeland Security within 60 days. Ideally prolonging status until April 2027, this mechanism’s clarity is uncertain.

Concerns loom regarding TPS revocation potential, highlighted by Trump’s administration actions. Over summer, Supreme Court ruling limited courts’ ability to challenge TPS process revocations. Comparatively, El Salvador’s TPS status recently lapsed without resolution, suggesting potential parallels.

Despite differences in treatment, Ukrainians face continued U4U re-paroling efforts quietly. Success hinges on advocacy, cautioned the senate aide.

On legislative progression, congress adjourned; advocacy continues on pathways to permanent residency for TPS holders. As a deadline neared, RefugeeOne, supporting around 1,500 families, received inquiries from anxious clients.

With work permits already expiring, confusion prevails. Sally Schulze, RefugeeOne’s director, stated,They were welcomed here because their country was at war…and many of them do not have a place to go back to.

Levchuk’s TPS pending status jeopardizes her son’s educational aspirations. Financial aid eligibility concerns add to the stress.

Despite hardships, she emphasizes gratitude,No matter what’s happened, I just want to say thank you, she concluded.

The Associated Press contributed.