In the USA, there is active discussion about a new plan that could drastically change the approach to managing the migration crisis, particularly concerning Ukrainian refugees
According to leading American publications and sources, the administration of former President Donald Trump intends to allocate up to $250 million from already planned foreign aid funds to implement a large-scale voluntary repatriation program for migrants from various countries, with a particular emphasis on Ukraine and Haiti. This non-public initiative was revealed by The Washington Post, which gained access to relevant internal documents. According to their information, it was preceded by lengthy discussions within government agencies, and it essentially represents an attempt to modify or even minimize the humanitarian support and assistance previously provided to Ukrainian and Haitian refugees. According to these documents, over 200,000 Ukrainians and about half a million Haitians who are fleeing their home countries due to increasing hardships, wars, and conflicts could fall under this voluntary return program. This initiative, which had not been publicly announced before, was developed at the end of April by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It envisions that Ukrainians and other migrants willing to voluntarily return home will receive a one-time cash payment of $1,000. The DHS itself announced this, adding that such a decision was made to promote return efforts and reduce the internal refugee influx into the United States. It is noted that similar measures are not entirely new, but they raise many questions regarding ethics and legality. While previous administrations respected and supported voluntary returns, this new Trump initiative has faced criticism from experts and human rights advocates. They emphasize that these are people from some of the most affected regions, ravaged by war and conflict, so implementing such measures appears to be a way to bypass international standards and undermines trust in the U.S. as a country that upholds human rights. Another notable aspect is that the program aims for global coverage: an additional document references not only Ukrainians and Haitians but also residents of Afghanistan, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. However, official bulletins state that the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which traditionally coordinates refugee returns worldwide, does not support such return routes to these countries. It is important to highlight that all these documents are in a "preliminary discussion" status and are not part of an official program at this time. DHS representatives claim that these documents are considered outdated, as they are dated from late April to early May. Nonetheless, a new agreement was actually signed last week between DHS and the U.S. State Department on similar financial arrangements—$250 million—and a comparable process, although the latest documents do not specify target nationalities. According to informed sources, the first group likely to participate in such a program will be Afghan citizens, who are being prioritized for voluntary return. Another aspect that causes outrage and concern is the reaction of the public and former officials. They describe this initiative as cruel, immoral, misjudged, and contradictory to the fundamental values of American society. Many question its legality, considering that the funds planned for repatriation were originally intended to aid refugees in extremely vulnerable situations. Recently, after Donald Trump took office in January, the Department of Homeland Security began sharply reducing or even suspending various programs related to the temporary legalization and protection of migrants in the United States, including those involving Ukrainians. This occurred amid plans for stricter migration policies, such as blocking or reducing humanitarian initiatives that allowed Ukrainians to obtain temporary protected status. Thousands of refugees and Ukrainian nationals temporarily present in the U.S. under these programs started receiving false emails in April about the cancellation of their statuses, adding even more tension and uncertainty. All these developments point to a trend toward increased strictness in U.S. migration policy, which, according to experts, could worsen the humanitarian situation for thousands of affected individuals and set a precedent that contradicts international responsibility and humanitarian principles. It is possible that with this new course, the Trump administration is attempting to project a "tough" stance on migration control, aiming to further limit the flow of refugees and asylum seekers. In summary, this initiative has sparked significant public and human rights community debates. Advocates emphasize the importance of maintaining a humanitarian approach and supporting multilateral efforts to address migration challenges, asserting that economic or political interests should not hinder the rights and freedoms of those in distress.