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119-s-5521119th Congress

Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a dedicated pathway to lawful permanent residence for eligible Ukrainians and certain family members. It would set DHS-led vetting, allow targeted waivers for humanitarian or family-unity reasons, protect applicants during processing, and exempt approvals from numerical immigration caps.

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  • Eligible Ukrainians and qualifying relatives would be able to apply for adjustment of status if they pass DHS background checks and meet admittance rules. Approved applicants would get lawful permanent resident status backdated to their initial inspection or parole date.
  • Spouses and children affected by abuse get special protection. A terminated marriage linked to battering can still support an adjustment for up to 2 years, and the bill adds a new Violence Against Women Act self-petitioner category for these Ukrainians.
  • The Secretary would apply refugee-level vetting, issue interim guidance within 180 days and final guidance within 1 year, and could waive many inadmissibility grounds for humanitarian, family-unity, or public-interest reasons. Waivers cannot cover certain criminal grounds or crimes committed in the U.S. after Feb. 20, 2014. Applicants would be shielded from removal and unlawful-presence findings while their applications are pending, and non-administrative fees would be barred with fee-waiver options available.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Permanent residence path for Ukrainians

If enacted, eligible Ukrainians in the United States would be able to apply to become lawful permanent residents. The Secretary would have to approve an application if the person applies under DHS rules, completes refugee-level vetting, is otherwise admissible, and the Secretary finds approval would not harm national welfare, public safety, or national security. Certain grounds of inadmissibility could be waived for humanitarian reasons, family unity, or public interest, but waivers could not cover some criminal conduct committed in the United States on or after February 20, 2014. While a bona fide application is pending and the applicant follows the rules, the applicant and included dependents generally could not be removed and would not be treated as unlawfully present. Approved applicants would get permanent-resident status as of the date they were first inspected, admitted, or paroled, and those approvals would not count against usual immigration numerical limits.

VAWA protections for eligible Ukrainians

If enacted, the bill would add the proposed Ukrainian adjustment category to the Violence Against Women Act self-petitioner rules. That would let eligible Ukrainians rely on this VAWA reference when they seek self-petitioner protections. Applicants would still need to meet the other VAWA requirements.

Lower fees for Ukrainian applicants

If enacted, DHS would be barred from charging fees for the listed adjustment and work-authorization filings and documents except for fees that cover actual processing or issuance costs. Eligible Ukrainians would be allowed to apply for waivers of filing fees for adjustment or work-authorization applications. The bill does not set dollar amounts or guarantee any waiver approvals.

DHS guidance deadlines for Ukrainians

If enacted, the Department of Homeland Security would have to publish interim implementing guidance within 180 days after enactment. The interim guidance would take effect when published and could be revised after public notice and opportunity to comment. The Secretary would have to issue final guidance no later than one year after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

AK • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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