Archbishop Borys Gudziak warns of deportation for 100,000 Ukrainians

Archbishop Borys Gudziak warned that more than 100,000 Ukrainians living and working in the United States face potential deportation as their temporary protections expire. Speaking to Catholic News Service during a visit to Rome and the Vatican, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia noted that many of these individuals, including those under the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program, may have no home to return to if policy changes do not occur.

The temporary protected status (TPS) designation for Ukraine and its related benefits were scheduled to terminate on Oct. 19, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Archbishop Gudziak stated that if these individuals do not find other legal ways to remain in the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement might subject them to deportation.

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on Oct. 5 to extend these protections for eligible Ukrainians until July 1, 2029. Additionally, some lawmakers are considering a provision that would allow a six-month extension to take effect automatically if the White House does not reach a decision by the deadline.