Mass Termination of Humanitarian Protections for Ukrainian Refugees in the USA: What Awaits Nearly 120,000 People
According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 120,000 Ukrainian refugees who entered the United States under a program established by President Biden’s administration face the risk of losing their legal status as early as August 15.
These Ukrainians, granted two-year humanitarian conditional permits, now find themselves in a difficult situation as their status is not automatically renewable after the expiration of their authorized period.
The program, called ‘Unity for Ukraine,’ was designed as a rapid way to assist Ukrainians during wartime and crisis, providing temporary protection that could be extended with the help of a private sponsor in the US.
Developed as a quick solution amid the ongoing conflict, the program allowed many to escape the lengthy process of standard refugee processing, which can take years.
However, when Donald Trump came to power, the program was discontinued, and renewal documents for work permits were no longer issued, complicating the lives of thousands of Ukrainian nationals already in the country.
Those who arrived before August 16, 2023, still retain certain protections, but the over 120,000 who arrived afterward are at risk of being undocumented once their humanitarian status expires.
Legal experts warn that losing this status could lead to arrest and deportation.
Non-profit volunteer organization ‘Nova Ukraine’ emphasizes that this situation leaves Ukrainian migrants in a double bind: either they have nowhere to go or lack the resources to leave and start anew elsewhere.
Currently, the US administration has no official yet measures to extend humanitarian protections, but political debates and protests against Trump’s immigration policies are growing across the country, highlighting the mounting tensions related to migration and refugee rights.