119th Congress

S.5490

A bill to designate Ukraine under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain nationals of Ukraine with continued eligibility for temporary protected status, and for other purposes.

Introduced·9/23/26

Prefiled

Introduced9/23/26

Chamber Passed

Final Passage

Complete

Introduced

S. 5490

Introduced in Senate · September 30, 2026

September 23, 2026

Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To designate Ukraine under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain nationals of Ukraine with continued eligibility for temporary protected status, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Designation for purposes of granting Ukraine temporary protected status.

(a) .—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon the expiration, on October 19, 2026, of the designation of Ukraine for purposes of temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), Ukraine shall be treated as if it has been designated under subsection (b)(1)(C) of that section, subject to the provisions of this Act.
(2) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—The period of designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall begin on October 20, 2026, and end on July 1, 2029.
1. (b) Aliens eligible.—As a result of the designation made under subsection (a), an alien who is a national of Ukraine, or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine, is deemed to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)), subject to paragraph (3) of such section, if the alien—
(1) has continuously resided in the United States since the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2) has been continuously physically present in the United States since such date of enactment;
(3) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph (2)(B) of such section; and
(4) registers for temporary protected status in such manner as the Secretary of Homeland Security establishes.
1. (c) Retroactive designation.—If this Act is enacted after October 20, 2026—
(1) it shall apply retroactively to October 20, 2026; and
(2) an alien who is otherwise eligible for temporary protected status under subsection (b) shall not be considered to have accrued unlawful presence in the United States.
1. (d) Receipt, processing, and adjudication.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(1) receive and process applications for temporary protected status, and applications for employment authorization in connection with such status, submitted by nationals of Ukraine and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine; and
(2) not later than 90 days after the date on which such application is received, complete the adjudication of such application.
1. (e) Consent To travel abroad.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with section 244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(3)), to an alien who is granted temporary protected status pursuant to the designation made under subsection (a) if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien require the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip abroad.
(2) TREATMENT UPON RETURN.—An alien returning to the United States in accordance with an authorization described in paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning alien provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a).
1. (f) Severability.—If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.

(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon the expiration, on October 19, 2026, of the designation of Ukraine for purposes of temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), Ukraine shall be treated as if it has been designated under subsection (b)(1)(C) of that section, subject to the provisions of this Act.
(2) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—The period of designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall begin on October 20, 2026, and end on July 1, 2029.
1. (b) Aliens eligible.—As a result of the designation made under subsection (a), an alien who is a national of Ukraine, or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine, is deemed to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)), subject to paragraph (3) of such section, if the alien—
(1) has continuously resided in the United States since the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2) has been continuously physically present in the United States since such date of enactment;
(3) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph (2)(B) of such section; and
(4) registers for temporary protected status in such manner as the Secretary of Homeland Security establishes.
1. (c) Retroactive designation.—If this Act is enacted after October 20, 2026—
(1) it shall apply retroactively to October 20, 2026; and
(2) an alien who is otherwise eligible for temporary protected status under subsection (b) shall not be considered to have accrued unlawful presence in the United States.
1. (d) Receipt, processing, and adjudication.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(1) receive and process applications for temporary protected status, and applications for employment authorization in connection with such status, submitted by nationals of Ukraine and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine; and
(2) not later than 90 days after the date on which such application is received, complete the adjudication of such application.
1. (e) Consent To travel abroad.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with section 244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(3)), to an alien who is granted temporary protected status pursuant to the designation made under subsection (a) if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien require the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip abroad.
(2) TREATMENT UPON RETURN.—An alien returning to the United States in accordance with an authorization described in paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning alien provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a).
1. (f) Severability.—If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.

S5490 U.S. Senate: Designates Ukraine for temporary…