Espaillat, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Harris, Kaptur, Quigley Introduce Bipartisan Ukrainian Protection Act of 2022.
Legislation would grant Ukrainians currently in the US Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Prevent Deportation. WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Mike Quigley (IL-05) introduced H.R. 6892, the Ukrainian Protection Act of 2022, legislation to grant Ukrainians currently in the United States Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to prevent deportation of these individuals back to Ukraine during the current violent conflict.
“The United States has a moral and humanitarian responsibility to support Ukrainians during this ongoing conflict – and we will,” said Congressman Espaillat. “I’m proud to join my congressional colleagues in this legislative effort to stand with our brothers and sisters who are fighting for their country, their families, and their lives in Ukraine following Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against them. The invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point in global diplomacy, and we must move swiftly to designate Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) during this ongoing conflict and in the face of such incredible threats.”
“We are seeing a humanitarian crisis unfold in Ukraine as Putin acts towards his delusional goal of reconstituting the USSR. 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. One of the first things we need to do is assure Ukrainians here in the US that we will not send innocent Ukrainians back to this war zone – which would only exacerbate conditions in Ukraine and inflict trauma on those already facing an unimaginable situation,” said Congressman Cicilline.
“As a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, it is imperative that we protect Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “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.”
“As Putin unleashes terror on innocent Ukrainian civilians, the Free World has an obligation to protect those who may yet fall under his murderous rampage. With 30,000 Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States, we must grant them the shelter that prevents them from being forced back into the setting of war. America has long been a refuge for those whose lives are threatened by immediate danger, and we must continue serving as this shining light of liberty,” said Congresswoman Kaptur.
“As we all witness the increasing levels of death and destruction in Ukraine, it would be unfathomable to deport our Ukrainian friends and neighbors into a warzone. Congress must act quickly to codify TPS status for Ukraine so no Ukrainian need fear deportation while their country is under assault," said Congressman Quigley.
The Ukrainian Protection Act of 2022 would add Ukraine as to the list of countries whose nationals are granted TPS under subsection (b) of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a) for a period of 18 months. According to the U.S. Census' 2019 American Community Survey, there are 104,618 Ukrainian noncitizens (including over 100 DACA holders) in the United States who would benefit from TPS.
Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities. He is also a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Second Vice Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip. Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. |
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