# 119-s-5521: Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2026

119-s-5521, Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK); status introduced (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5521
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5521
- Congress: 119
- Title: Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-24
- Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-11

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Permanent residence path for Ukrainians: benefit, high. 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 woul…
- VAWA protections for eligible Ukrainians: benefit, medium. 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 requiremen…
- Lower fees for Ukrainian applicants: benefit, low. 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 app…
- DHS guidance deadlines for Ukrainians: benefit, low. 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 gui…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-2012: Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025
- 119-s-1874: Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2431: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-s-1245: Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-5521 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5521)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-2012: Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2012)
- [119-s-1874: Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1874)
- [119-s-2431: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Ac…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2431)
- [119-s-1245: Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1245)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5521 (as of 2026-10-11).