(Maranda Heytsi (L) and Martha Hulshof (R) - Community First Broadcasting Staff Photo)Sioux County, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — There is some relief for Ukrainians living in Iowa who fled the war with Russia and were concerned their legal protection from deportation could expire.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Sunday that Ukrainians with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, may continue living and working in the United States.
Martha Hulshof of Ireton, whose sister has served as a missionary in Ukraine for more than 25 years, helped bring about 150 Ukrainians to Sioux County after Russia’s invasion. Hulshof says it’s been a confusing time.
Temporary Protected Status was created in 1990 for immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries because of war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.
The Department of Homeland Security says a long-term decision regarding TPS for approximately 100,000 Ukrainians living in the United States will be made at a later time but did not provide additional details.
The Trump Administration has previously revoked TPS protections for other groups and has ordered deportations for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including Haitians and Afghans.
