Ukrainian Immigrants Fear Deportation Amid U.S. Policy Uncertainty
Washington, D.C. – Ukrainian immigrants who fled the ongoing war with Russia and resettled in the United States under temporary legal status are now living in fear of deportation. Concerns within the community intensified following recent comments by President Donald Trump, who stated that he would soon decide whether to revoke their temporary status.
Fear and Uncertainty in the Ukrainian Community
For many Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, life in their homeland has been permanently altered by war.
“It’s been like a nightmare. We are scared and we feel uncertain of everything around us,” said Daria, a 41-year-old Ukrainian immigrant and mother of four living in Florida. She and her family sought refuge in the U.S. after their home in Ukraine was destroyed by bombing.
The community’s fears were heightened when Reuters reported that the Trump administration was planning to revoke the temporary legal status of Ukrainians who arrived during the war. Though the White House later dismissed the report as “fake news,” it failed to alleviate the growing anxiety among Ukrainian immigrants.
Temporary Status at Risk
More than 280,000 Ukrainian immigrants have resettled in the U.S. under the Uniting for Ukraine program, established by the Biden administration to provide temporary humanitarian parole. This status has allowed them to work and remain in the country without fear of deportation.
However, Trump has issued an executive order directing the termination of all categorical parole programs that do not align with his administration’s immigration goals. As a result, applications for Uniting for Ukraine have been halted, and uncertainty now looms over those already residing in the U.S. under the program.
Some Ukrainian immigrants, including Daria and another immigrant, Maryna, 40, also have Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—a separate legal protection for individuals from countries affected by conflict or disaster. Although the Biden administration extended TPS for Ukrainians until October 2026, Trump has been critical of the program and could attempt to revoke it.
“We live day by day now because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” said Maryna, who came to the U.S. with her husband and three children. She has since given birth to a child who is now two years old. “Everyone is looking for any way to stay here because the war is not over. Even if the war stopped now, there would still be danger in going back.”
Growing Anxiety Amid Policy Shifts
Trump’s broader immigration policies have alarmed Ukrainians, especially following his recent attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The administration also announced plans to end TPS for Venezuelans and Haitians, signaling that Ukrainians could be next.
For Ukrainian immigrants, the potential revocation of their legal status feels like a betrayal. Ivan Makar, principal of the Self-Reliance Saturday School of Ukrainian Studies in New York City, said the uncertainty has left families devastated.
“We’re very upset, we’re in disbelief and horror,” Makar said. “If they send them back, where are they going? Back to war? They don’t have houses anymore. Their places have been demolished. I mean, where do they go?”
What’s Next?
As the Trump administration reviews its immigration policies, the Ukrainian community in the U.S. remains on edge. Many are scrambling to explore legal avenues to remain in the country, fearing that deportation could leave them and their families in dire circumstances.
Immigration advocates urge Ukrainian parolees and TPS holders to seek legal advice and stay informed on potential policy changes.
For now, the fate of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants in the U.S. hangs in the balance as they await an official decision from the Trump administration.
