State Reps. Joe Miller, Sean Brennan Introduce Resolution Urging Ukrainian Visa Extensions

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Joe Miller (D – Amherst) and Sean Brennan (D – Parma) today introduced a resolution urging the federal government to extend the visas of Ukrainian Refugees fleeing the war with Russia.

“It is imperative that we maintain TPS status for Ukrainians while this conflict continues to rage on,” said Rep. Miller “It is completely against our values as a nation to remove these necessary protections for Ukrainians while there is still active conflict in the region. We cannot have people who have built their lives here in Northeast Ohio living in fear that any day their standing in the United States can change.”

Ukrainians became eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and although the conflict has shown no signs of softening the Federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has left Ukrainians in limbo along with many other TPS eligible groups.

“I recently visited Ukraine as part of a humanitarian effort to deliver ambulances and additional vehicles, along with medical supplies and humanitarian aid. It is not safe.” said Rep. Brennan “Many of my constituents arrived in my district through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) visa program, and they are all hard-working, law-abiding members of the community. We must not turn our backs on them while their homeland is still under siege.”=

TPS protections for Ukrainians were set to expire on October 19th, 2026, but in an eleventh-hour move DHS announced that the group will retain protection until a decision on the humanitarian program is made.

The resolution was introduced today and awaits a number and committee assignment.