First Deportations of Ukrainian Citizens from the United States: What is Known So Far
The United States of America has officially recorded the first instances of deportation of Ukrainian nationals, sparking widespread media coverage and raising concerns about immigration procedures.
According to the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a small group of Ukrainian citizens was forcibly sent back to Ukraine.
Photos documenting their transportation back to Ukrainian territory were shared through official channels in location H.
The images depict border infrastructure and officers from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS).
It is important to note that details of this operation, including the grounds for deportation and the number of individuals involved, have not been publicly disclosed by the U.S.
authorities.
Ukrainian border officials confirmed the incident and stated that the country conducting the deportation is not obliged to inform the other side beforehand.
They also added that currently there are no mass deportations of Ukrainians from the U.S.
observed.
This event occurred amid the expiration of various humanitarian protection mechanisms for Ukrainians residing in the United States.
According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 120,000 Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S.
after August 16, 2023, under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program and held temporary humanitarian status began losing their legal protections from mid-August.
This increase their vulnerability to detention and deportation, raising concerns among human rights advocates.
Notably, during his second term, former President Donald Trump shut down the program and ceased issuing renewal documents for work permits approaching expiration.
Recently, Trump stated that he is inclined to allow Ukrainians to stay in the country until the end of the war, but no official legal steps have been taken in this direction so far.