Latest news with #temporaryProtection
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
A Ukrainian mother's appeal
Sir, – I am a 44-year-old Ukrainian mother of three children, who came to Ireland 2½ years ago under temporary protection, fleeing the war in Kherson, Ukraine. Our house in Kherson has been destroyed. Returning there is not an option – it is simply not safe for us. Ireland has become our sanctuary, a place where we can finally breathe and build a future. Since arriving, I have enrolled in the Atlantic Technological University in Galway, now in my second year studying fashion design. My children have thrived here – they speak the language, have wonderful friends, and feel truly at home. My eldest is finishing college and dreaming of university. We have planted roots in Ireland. We contribute, we learn, and we belong. But, our future remains uncertain as the path to citizenship feels so far away. READ MORE Allowing Ukrainians under temporary protection to apply for citizenship after three years would be a powerful act of humanity. It would recognise our struggle, our resilience, and our commitment to this country that has given us hope. As a mother, I ask Ireland to open its heart to families like mine. Give our children the chance to feel safe, secure, and truly at home in the only country they now know as home. Ireland has already shown compassion. Now, it can show courage and vision. With hope and gratitude, – Yours, etc, OKSANA VORONINA, Monivea Road, Galway.
Forbes
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
187,000 Ukrainians Get A Reprieve From U.S. Deportation as War Rages
A major court decision has brought long-awaited relief to tens of thousands of Ukrainian U.S. immigrants who got relief to live in the U.S. under temporary protection. Many had been stuck for months without the ability to work or apply for legal status because of a government-imposed freeze on immigration processing. Now, after a federal judge ruled that pause unlawful, the U.S. government is restarting the process — allowing parolees to once again seek work permits, asylum, and more permanent immigration solutions. But while this news is welcome, it comes against a darker backdrop: the United States, despite having promised to protect Ukraine's independence decades ago, has in recent months attempted to deport some Ukrainians back to a country still under active assault by Russia. And instead of supporting Ukraine as the victim of Russia's invasion of its sovereignty, the administration is outright supporting Russia as the aggressor. The situation in Ukraine remains dire. Reports of war crimes, rapes, torture, and mass graves in places like Bucha, Irpyn, and other towns have shocked the world. Russian forces continue to occupy parts of Ukrainian territory, and the toll on civilians—especially women and children—grows daily. Yet, while the war grinds on, the U.S. government has attempted to strip protections from Ukrainians in the U.S. under temporary humanitarian programs, exposing them to the risk of deportation. This includes those who arrived through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, launched in 2022 to offer temporary safety. This effort has left many advocates and immigrants feeling betrayed, especially given America's 1994 commitment under the Budapest Memorandum, where the U.S., U.K., and Russia pledged to respect Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal—the third largest in the world—in exchange for that promise. Russia, which received the surrendered weapons, has flagrantly violated the deal. But critics say the U.S. is also falling short, not through bombs or invasion, but through immigration policy that undermines the very people fleeing that war. In February 2025, the U.S. paused processing of immigration applications for people here on humanitarian parole, including U4U participants. That meant: This left over 187,000 Ukrainian parolees in a dangerous legal limbo. Many were unable to renew documents or continue working — some were even placed into deportation proceedings. On May 28, a federal court ruled this freeze unlawful, siding with plaintiffs in a case called Svitlana Doe v. Noem. The judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restart application processing. On June 9, USCIS issued internal guidance telling officers to resume working on backlogged cases. While new U4U sponsorships are still paused, existing parolees can now move forward again. These numbers represent real people: children in school, parents holding jobs, soldiers' families who fled Russian bombs. Many are now hoping to finally get decisions on their cases — decisions that could mean safety, stability, and legal status. With the court's ruling in place, parolees in the U.S. can once again apply for: Applications will be reviewed after additional security vetting. Interviews that were previously canceled may now be rescheduled. While the court decision is good news, there are still big challenges: In fact, just days after the court's May 28 ruling, the Trump administration (in its ongoing legal battle) asked the court to throw out the decision—arguing that Ukrainian sponsors had no right to sue, and that deportation wasn't a real threat. That argument rings hollow to many Ukrainians and Americans alike. It ignores the reality that returning someone to a war zone where civilian apartment blocks are being shelled is not a policy—it's a moral failure. This matter is part of the overall discontent that was displayed as hundreds of thousands of people in America demonstrated Saturday against Trump immigration policies in cities across the country while in Washington the American Army marched in a parade to mark their 250th birthday and President Trump marked his 78th birthday. In the days ahead the debate over what is the proper immigration policy for American to follow in general, not just for Ukrainians, will be at the forefront of considerations in Congress. Meanwhile President Trump has travelled to Canada to attend the G-7 meeting and deal with security issues such as the Middle East and Ukraine while keeping an eye on immigration issues back home. This moment is a test of America's moral compass. The U.S. once asked Ukraine to trade its nukes for a promise of peace. Now, Ukrainians are asking America to keep that promise—not with weapons, but with compassion and lawful protection. For over 187,000 Ukrainians here, this ruling which gave Ukrainian U.S. immigrations relief from deportation a ray of hope. But it's also a reminder that immigration is not just policy — it's people. And behind every application is a family fleeing a war the world promised to help them survive. Now is the time to act — apply, renew, and speak up. Because history will remember not only what Russia did to Ukraine, but what the world did—or didn't do—in response.
The Guardian
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
EU plans would extend right for 4m Ukrainians to stay in bloc until 2027
The European Commission has said more than 4 million Ukrainians living in the EU should have their right to stay extended until March 2027, while calling for efforts to promote voluntary. Temporary protection status for Ukrainians who fled after Russia's full-scale invasion of February 2022 would be extended by one year until March 2027, under a European Commission proposal published on Wednesday. EU member states must approve the extension, which applies to 4.3 million Ukrainians, one-third of whom are children. While calling for the extension, the commission also urged EU governments to think beyond the temporary fix by making it easier for Ukrainians to obtain other types of residence permits, such as work and student visas. It said governments should set up programmes to promote voluntary returns to Ukraine, including by supporting exploratory visits. Magnus Brunner, the EU's internal affairs commissioner, stressed that all returns would be voluntary and that ending temporary protection status would be a decision taken with EU member states and Ukraine 'once we have a stable situation'. The proposals came as Ukraine's government outlined plans for 'unity hubs' – community centres which will offer its citizens information about returning home and integrating into their host societies. The first unity hub is due to open this summer in Berlin, with others planned in Prague and Alicante. Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov, told reporters: 'We desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over. We need to develop the Ukrainian economy, we need to transform Ukraine into a prosperous economy and develop democracy.' Chernyshov said that if Ukraine were to attain the 'quite achievable' goal of doubling the size of its economy in the decade after the war it could need an additional 4 million people in the labour market. 'Only the strong economy can pave the way to the future success of Ukraine and successful integration into the European Union,' he added. The proposals follow inconclusive talks in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed only on a prisoner exchange, while Moscow refuses to compromise on its maximalist war aims, which include the recognition of four Ukrainian regions it claims, but does not fully occupy. Chernyshov noted that 'the results we are getting with these talks are not the ones that could have been achieved'. He said a voluntary returns programme being developed with UN agencies the IOM and UNHCR, would answer questions facing every Ukrainian family now in Europe: 'How they will return back home? What are going to be the possibilities and proposals for their job? Where are they going to live, where are their kids going to go to school. What is the healthcare system proposal – and so on.' The commission is releasing €4bn to support Ukrainians in the EU, on top of €15bn allocated to member states since 2022. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion The EU activated its temporary protection directive for Ukrainians in March 2022, in an unprecedented gesture of support. That temporary status has been extended several times, but several EU governments have begun exploring other options. In the Czech Republic, Ukrainians earning at least 440,000 Czech crowns (£14,900, €17,700), with two years' residence, can now apply for a long-term residence permit. In Poland, Ukrainians who have had temporary protection for at least one year can apply for a three-year residence permit, although they would lose certain benefits such as free healthcare and a waiver on university tuition fees. Norway, which is outside the EU but operates a similar temporary protection scheme, announced last year it was tightening up rules, so Ukrainians from areas that are considered safe would be treated like any other asylum seeker and not automatically granted the right to stay. Support for Ukrainians in the EU remains high, but has ebbed since the early days of the invasion. By February 2024, 71% of people surveyed by Eurobarometer supported Ukrainian refugees, compared with 88% in the immediate aftermath of the invasion.
