GOP lawmaker urges Trump to extend protection for Ukrainians

• Rep. Mike Lawler urged the White House to extend protections for 240,000 Ukrainians in the U.S. amid the ongoing war with Russia. A senior aide reports Lawler is in talks with the White House.
• President Donald Trump is reportedly considering revoking Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainian nationals.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismisses reports on the issue as “fake news.”

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A New York congressman is pushing for the continuation of protections for Ukrainians in the U.S. as Russia’s invasion continues in their home country. New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is urging the White House to preserve the legal status of some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the U.S. to escape the war.

Lawler seeks to shield Ukrainian refugees from deportation

Lawler’s plea comes in response to reports President Donald Trump is considering revoking the Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians. This legal status allows individuals from countries in conflict or facing natural disasters to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

In an exclusive report, Reuters revealed sources close to the White House suggested Trump could take action to remove these protections for Ukrainian nationals living in the U.S.

A senior aide to Lawler told Newsweek the congressman is reportedly in communication with the White House. He has urged them to make a decision that doesn’t negatively impact Ukrainian refugees.

Thousands of Ukrainians in limbo

If protections are revoked, thousands of Ukrainians could face deportation back to a country still at war. Many fled to the U.S. starting in 2022 to escape the ongoing Russian invasion.

Trump himself spoke about the issue from the Oval Office on Thursday, March 6.

“We’re not looking to hurt anybody, we’re certainly not looking to hurt them,” Trump said regarding potential changes in status for the Ukrainian refugees. “There were some people that think that’s appropriate, and some people don’t, and I’ll be making the decision pretty soon.”

Amid the controversy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the Reuters report as “fake news,” insisting that sources behind the claims were misinformed.

Temporary Protected Status program

Former President Joe Biden’s Uniting for Ukraine program granted the country’s citizens refuge under TPS provisions. Before leaving office, Biden extended these protections until 2026, allowing Ukrainians to stay in the U.S.

In addition to Ukrainians, citizens of countries such as Cameroon, El Salvador, Afghanistan and Honduras also benefit from TPS protections.

The fate of Ukrainian nationals living in the U.S. is currently in limbo, as the Biden administration navigates its policy towards the crisis. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently ended protections for Haitian and Venezuelan nationals.