Philadelphia families who came to the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine received a brief reprieve on Monday when the Department of Homeland Security announced an automatic six‑month extension of the program. The extension, which takes effect without any new action from the agency, keeps the current protections in place while the administration works on a longer‑term solution.
Local families rely on TPS for safety and stability
For 17‑year‑old Oleksii Pasichniak, the extension means his younger brother can continue receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a rare disease. “We want to stay here just for him for hospital because that’s the reason we go to US, exactly to Philadelphia,” Pasichniak said.
The Pasichniak family arrived in Philadelphia nearly five years ago, and after applying for a medical visa in 2019 they were granted permission for overseas treatment in 2022, just as the war in Ukraine began. Their father now works locally, but the uncertainty surrounding TPS leaves many families anxious about future employment and housing.
Community groups step in to help
Local faith and nonprofit organizations have mobilized to support Ukrainian residents during this period of uncertainty. Thomas Hanney, Cathedral Council President at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, said the church opened its rectory to the Pasichniak family. “Igor Sr. immediately found a job working seven days a week,” Hanney noted.
Andre Krug, CEO of the nonprofit KleinLife, which runs an after‑school program for Ukrainian children in Northeast Philadelphia, said his organization will cover school costs for children whose parents lose employment after the 19th of the month. “It’s a short‑term solution but a solution nonetheless,” Krug said.
Krug estimates KleinLife has already assisted about 2,000 Ukrainian families who arrived after Russia’s invasion. He warned that many families still lack permanent housing, noting that many homes were destroyed in the conflict. “These are not criminals; these are the people that you yourself invited to this country, and you promised to keep them here safe until the war is over,” he said.
Federal response and broader context
The DHS decision to let the existing TPS designation remain in effect was automatic, as the agency did not issue a new designation before the original expiration date. While this provides temporary relief, the administration has not set a date for a final determination on Ukraine’s TPS status.
Other TPS recipients, including Sudanese, Salvadoran, and Haitian nationals, are facing similar uncertainty as their designations approach expiration dates. Advocacy groups are urging Congress and the administration to provide longer‑term solutions for all TPS holders.
What comes next?
Families like the Pasichniaks say they can only wait for the next federal announcement. “We cannot do nothing about it. We just have to wait what the government will decide,” Oleksii said.
Local leaders and community organizations continue to monitor the situation, offering assistance where possible and urging the federal government to honor its commitment to protect those who have sought refuge in the United States.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
