Trump administration apologizes for wrongful deportation notice to Ukrainians
US Department of Homeland Security emblem is pictured at the National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Centre (NCCIC) located just outside Washington in Arlington, Virginia September 24, 2010. PHOTO: REUTERS
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Ukrainian refugees in the United States received alarming emails this week from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), instructing them to leave the country due to an alleged termination of their legal status.
The notice, dated April 3, warned recipients that their parole under the Biden-era Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program would expire in seven days and that they would face deportation if they did not depart voluntarily.
The message, which caused panic among many of the 240,000 Ukrainians currently residing in the U.S. under the program, read: 'Do not attempt to remain in the United States – the federal government will find you.' It also urged recipients to sign up for self-deportation to avoid law enforcement action.
However, just a day after the email was sent, DHS issued a follow-up communication confirming that the deportation notice was sent 'in error.' The agency assured those affected that their legal protections under the U4U program would not be revoked, and no further action would be taken.
The erroneous notices have raised concerns among Ukrainian refugees and their sponsors, many of whom feared that the notice signalled broader changes to U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration. DHS clarified that the U4U parole program remains intact and that the notice was a mistake.
Angela Boelens, president of IA NICE, an organisation that helps sponsor Ukrainian families, shared the distress felt by those impacted. "The community was terrified,' she said, explaining how some recipients, including pregnant women and new mothers, were left in tears after receiving the original notice.
This incident has sparked further questions about the administration's treatment of refugees and the confusion surrounding the status of migrants, particularly Ukrainians fleeing the ongoing war with Russia.
While the Biden administration initiated the U4U program to provide temporary refuge to Ukrainians, the Trump administration has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of such humanitarian measures, claiming they have been abused.
Despite the apology from DHS, the confusion has left many Ukrainians uncertain about their future in the U.S. and concerned that further disruptions could occur, particularly in light of the Trump administration's hard stance on immigration.
The episode highlights the challenges facing those seeking refuge in the U.S. amid shifting immigration policies and the growing sense of instability among displaced populations.
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