Approximately 120,000 Ukrainian refugees in the US will begin losing humanitarian protection after the closure of the Uniting for Ukraine program tomorrow, which could lead to arrests and deportations.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Approximately 120,000 Ukrainians who fled the war to the US over the past two years will begin gradually losing their humanitarian status. This concerns participants in the Uniting for Ukraine program, created by the Joe Biden administration as a temporary legal mechanism for resettling Ukrainians.
Under the program’s terms, Ukrainian refugees received a renewable two-year status—humanitarian parole — provided they had a private American sponsor. The program was introduced to accelerate resettlement, as the traditional process of obtaining refugee status in the US can take years.
However, all participants received temporary status, making them vulnerable after its expiration. In the event of a government decision to arrest them, authorities already have their home addresses.
After taking office, Donald Trump closed the program and stopped extending the status for those whose work permits are expiring. Overall, approximately 250,000 Ukrainians arrived in the US under the Uniting for Ukraine program.
Ukrainians who arrived before August 16, 2023, remain protected under another program — Temporary Protected Status. In contrast, the approximately 120,000 who arrived on that day or later will become undocumented in the country after the expiration of their humanitarian parole.