Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, President Joe Biden implemented a temporary immigration program called Uniting for Ukraine to allow Ukrainian refugees to settle in the U.S. Thousands of Ukrainians relocated to cities like Madison, finding jobs, homes, and enrolling their children in schools. However, President Donald Trump recently appeared to end the program and other immigrant assistance frameworks, leaving the future uncertain for Ukrainian immigrants. The Ukrainian parole program was paused pending review by the Trump administration, causing distress among the Ukrainian community in Wisconsin.
One Ukrainian immigrant, Kateryna Temchenko, expressed her difficulty in leaving her homeland and the uncertainty of her future in the U.S. Many Ukrainians do not qualify as refugees under U.S. immigration law because they are not persecuted by their own government but rather by the Russian government. The Uniting for Ukraine program allowed Ukrainians to stay in the U.S. for two years and work legally. However, Trump’s order to end parole programs raised questions about the extension of stay for Ukrainians already in the country. Immigration attorney Raluca Vais-Ottosen highlighted the confusion surrounding the termination of categorical parole programs, which could include Ukraine.
Separate from humanitarian parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) grants protection from deportation to qualifying non-citizens in the U.S. Ukrainians in the U.S. as of August 2023 could apply for TPS, with the application window still open. Trump’s administration may decide to extend TPS for Ukraine, affecting the legal status of Ukrainian immigrants. Ukrainian-American community leader Ruslana Westerlund criticized the inconsistency in refugee qualification criteria, with Ukrainians facing challenges despite fleeing war and violence. The Trump administration’s immigration policy changes have disrupted the lives of Ukrainian immigrants, creating uncertainty and fear about their future in the U.S.
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