The Trump plan to deport Ukrainians moved from speculation to alarming possibility on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, as explosive new reporting revealed the White House is weighing the revocation of legal protections for Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the United States after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Citing senior administration officials, Reuters reported that the administration is preparing deportation plans targeting the Ukrainians granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the Biden administration, with expulsions possibly beginning as early as next month.
The report, carried by The Times, says the anticipated move is part of a wider crackdown on immigration and a systematic reversal of Biden-era humanitarian policies. But the White House pushed back hard: press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the report on X, calling it “fake news from Reuters” and insisting that “no decision has been made at this time.” With Ukraine’s TPS designation set to expire on October 19, 2026 — just six days away — the fate of roughly 240,000 Ukrainians hangs in the balance.
What the Trump Plan to Deport Ukrainians Reportedly Includes
According to the reporting, the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians centers on refusing to extend or renew Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, a federal designation that shields eligible foreign nationals from deportation when conditions in their home country make return unsafe. About 240,000 Ukrainians were granted TPS after Russia invaded in February 2022, allowing them to live and work legally in the United States.
Reuters’ sources said the administration’s plans include provisions to actively deport Ukrainians once protections lapse, with expulsions expected to begin as early as next month. The reporting suggests the move could ultimately affect up to 1.8 million people who were allowed to enter the United States on humanitarian grounds under various Biden-era programs — a figure that would make it one of the largest single deportation efforts in American history.
The Times reported that the threat to revoke legal status emerged amid worsening relations between Washington and Kyiv. President Trump has pressed for a swift end to the war and wants Ukraine to sign a deal granting America access to its rare mineral deposits. A public clash between the two presidents in the Oval Office last week reportedly put that deal on ice and triggered a series of punitive measures against Kyiv by the White House, including the suspension of military aid.
White House Denial: “No Decision Has Been Made”
The administration’s response was swift and categorical. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to dispute the report, writing that it was “more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about.” She added: “The truth: no decision has been made at this time.”
The denial leaves the situation in a familiar gray zone. Administration officials frequently float controversial immigration plans through anonymous sourcing before formal decisions are announced — a pattern seen across the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown. For the Ukrainians whose legal status expires on October 19, the denial offers little comfort without a formal extension.
As StateLineDaily previously reported, the administration has launched the largest denaturalization effort in modern history against 40 naturalized citizens, and it blocked Microsoft and Adobe from the green card program in its H-1B visa crackdown — signals that the immigration agenda is only accelerating.
The October 19 Deadline: Why Ukraine’s TPS Is Expiring
Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine is scheduled to terminate on October 19, 2026, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ukraine was first designated for TPS in April 2022, two months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, and the Biden administration extended it — most recently in January 2025, when the Department of Homeland Security authorized an additional 18 months of protection.
A September 3, 2026 USCIS notice confirmed that the designation and related benefits remain scheduled for termination on October 19 unless the administration acts. TPS does not provide permanent residency or a path to citizenship, but it protects holders from deportation and authorizes them to work legally in the United States.
More than 100,000 Ukrainians currently hold TPS, according to estimates cited in recent reporting, while over 240,000 entered through the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program launched in April 2022. The administration already halted processing of immigration benefits for those parolees in February 2025, citing fraud concerns and national security vetting.
How Many People Would Be Affected
The numbers behind the potential Trump plan to deport Ukrainians are staggering. The Times reports that nearly a quarter of a million Ukrainians were granted TPS — protections that could vanish overnight if the designation is allowed to expire. Reuters’ reporting goes further, suggesting up to 1.8 million people admitted on humanitarian grounds across nationalities could eventually be swept up in the broader expulsion effort.
Politico reported on October 8 that nearly 100,000 Ukrainian citizens could lose temporary protection specifically, underscoring how much uncertainty remains about the administration’s final scope. What is clear: families who fled a war zone, built lives, enrolled children in American schools, and obtained legal work authorization now face the prospect of losing it all within days.
Ukraine’s ambassador and diaspora organizations have pleaded with the administration to extend protections, arguing that returning people to an active conflict zone — where Russian drones, ballistic missiles, and aerial bombs continue striking schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure — would be inhumane and dangerous.
Congress Fights Back: Bipartisan Bill to Extend TPS Through 2029
Lawmakers are not waiting for the White House. Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former Army Ranger, introduced legislation to extend TPS for Ukrainians through June 2029, taking the decision out of the president’s hands. The bill was introduced alongside Representatives Bill Keating (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), with a Senate companion from Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Murkowski, Chris Coons, and Bill Cassidy.
“Russia continues its illegal and unprovoked attacks on Ukraine,” Crow said. “America must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.” A bipartisan group of 31 senators has separately urged the administration to extend TPS for another 18 months, citing the ongoing war, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the dangers of returning people to an active conflict zone.
Whether Congress can move fast enough is another question. With the October 19 deadline less than a week away and the legislative calendar packed, immigration advocates warn that Ukrainians could fall into legal limbo even if a bill eventually passes.
Part of a Wider Immigration Crackdown
The potential Trump plan to deport Ukrainians fits a broader pattern of the administration’s second-term immigration agenda. The president has ended separate humanitarian sponsorship programs for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Presidential proclamations in late 2025 imposed travel restrictions on nationals from dozens of countries, and in January 2026 the State Department paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 high-risk countries.
The administration has also linked immigration enforcement to foreign policy leverage. The reported pressure on Kyiv over rare mineral deposits, combined with the suspension of military aid after the Oval Office clash, suggests Ukrainian refugees may be caught in a geopolitical bargaining game — a dynamic that has drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
StateLineDaily previously covered the administration’s surprise Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire declaration, highlighting how quickly the White House’s Ukraine policy has shifted in recent weeks.
What Ukrainian Refugees in the US Should Do Now
Immigration attorneys are urging Ukrainians with expiring protections to act immediately. Key steps include:
- Check your status: Confirm your TPS expiration date and work authorization documents through USCIS. Keep physical and digital copies of all records.
- Explore alternatives: Asylum, family-based petitions, and employment-based visas may offer paths to legal status independent of TPS.
- Consult an attorney: Re-parole applications are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis; an immigration lawyer can assess eligibility.
- Watch for announcements: Monitor official DHS and USCIS communications — an extension, termination, or even inaction could each change the legal picture.
What to Watch as the Trump Plan to Deport Ukrainians Develops
The coming week will decide whether the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians becomes official administration policy. If the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians proceeds, the October 19 TPS termination would serve as its trigger — leaving the 240,000 Ukrainians who could be swept up in the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians scrambling for alternative legal status. Immigration attorneys urge anyone who could be affected by the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians to seek legal counsel now rather than waiting for a formal announcement.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian stakes, the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians would break with decades of bipartisan precedent for sheltering war refugees. Supporters of extending protections argue the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians would punish families fleeing an active war zone for geopolitical disputes beyond their control. Whether Congress blocks the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians or the White House lets TPS lapse, StateLineDaily will continue tracking the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians as the deadline approaches.
For the Ukrainians watching from cities across America, the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians is not an abstract policy debate — it is the difference between safety and return to a war zone. How the White House handles the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians in the next six days will signal how far the administration is willing to go in reversing humanitarian protections.
Advocates caution that even “doing nothing” by the administration — simply letting the deadline pass without a formal termination — could create chaos, as employers and government offices question the validity of work permits, a scenario that previously plagued Salvadoran TPS holders.
What Happens Next: Key Dates to Watch
All eyes are now on October 19, 2026 — the day Ukraine’s TPS designation is scheduled to expire. If the Trump plan to deport Ukrainians is real, formal announcements could come within days. If the White House extends protections, the crisis deflates overnight. And if Congress’s bipartisan bill gains momentum, the decision could be taken out of the executive branch’s hands entirely.
For now, 240,000 lives hang on a decision the White House insists has not been made — even as its own officials reportedly describe detailed deportation plans. StateLineDaily will continue tracking this story as it develops.
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