Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-born Republican, has called on former President Donald Trump to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 100,000 Ukrainians currently residing in the United States. The plea comes as the current TPS designation for Ukraine is scheduled to expire on October 19.
Vernikov, a supporter of Trump, emphasized that the ongoing war initiated by Russia against Ukraine necessitates the extension of these protections. "The United States has stood with the Ukrainian people throughout this devastating conflict. Extending TPS would continue that commitment and ensure that Ukrainians currently in the United States are not sent back to a country where the threat of war remains very real," Vernikov stated.
In a letter to the former president, Vernikov highlighted that the war, which began in 2022, continues to pose significant risks to civilians. "The war is still ongoing, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, and civilians remain at risk. Ukraine has not returned to normal conditions in which it would be reasonable to expect people currently protected in the United States to return safely," she wrote.
Vernikov noted that the TPS designation for Ukrainian nationals was last extended in January 2025, and the conditions in Ukraine have not improved since the initial conflict. She pointed out that Ukrainians who have established lives in the U.S. are contributing members of their communities, working, paying taxes, raising families, and supporting local businesses.
"They should not be forced to choose between returning to an active war zone and abruptly losing the legal protections that allow them to remain and work here," Vernikov said. She described the TPS extension as a "temporary, humanitarian measure that recognizes the reality on the ground while the war continues."
Vernikov personally met with Trump in 2022, and his son, Donald Trump Jr., previously supported her election campaign. She recalled Trump expressing solidarity with Ukraine during their meeting. The councilwoman formally requested that the Department of Homeland Security be directed to extend Ukraine's TPS designation for an additional 18 months, or as long as statutory conditions for TPS are met.
This appeal comes at a time when the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security are expected to decide on the extension of TPS for Ukrainians. Trump previously ended TPS protections for Haitians and Syrians, actions that were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The White House is reportedly reviewing Vernikov's letter.