The Department of Homeland Security announced it will grant temporary protected status to Ukrainians in the US for 18 months.
Ukrainians applying for the status must have been living in the US by March 1. Those who arrived in the US after that date will not be eligible, the DHS said.
“Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries,” DHS chief Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
“This invasion has caused a humanitarian crisis with significant numbers of individuals fleeing and damage to civilian infrastructure that has left many without electricity or water or access to food, basic supplies, shelter and emergency medical services,” Mr Mayorkas said.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has already suspended deportations to Ukraine, citing a “humanitarian crisis".