U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on March 2 introduced a bipartisan bill that would prevent Ukrainians currently in the United States from being deported back to their homeland during the Russian invasion.
“As a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, it is imperative that we protect Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “This bipartisan legislation grants Ukrainians the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) they not only desperately need, but deserve, while their home country is under attack. I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to support this urgently needed piece of legislation.”
Rep. Fitzpatrick signed on as an original cosponsor of the Ukrainian Protection Act of 2022, H.R. 6892, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) to permit nationals of Ukraine to be eligible for TPS under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for a period of 18 months, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“As we and our international partners work to stop Putin and his enablers through sanctions and by providing security assistance to President Zelensky and his government, we also need to ensure that we are providing humanitarian assistance to those stuck in Ukraine, those who have just fled to neighboring countries, and those who are here in the United States,” said Rep. Cicilline.
H.R. 6892 has been referred to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee for consideration.