Nearly half a million Ukrainians have come to the United States since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Of these, some 170,000 arrived under the Biden-era Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, which aimed to help resettle Ukrainians displaced by the war, allowing them to bi-pass the normally lengthy visa process. That program and other humanitarian parole policies are now under review by the Trump administration. AcoM Co-Director Julian Do spoke with Ruslan Gurzhiy, publisher and editor of SlavicSac, about the evolving US-Ukraine relationship and how Trump’s policies are sewing uncertainty and trepidation for Ukrainians in the US.
The Trump administration has officially paused U4U and appears intent on ending similar programs. What’s been the response from Ukrainians here?
Ukrainian immigrants and Ukrainian Americans are currently living in fear. The Ukrainians that came here through the U4U initiative were all sponsored by the Ukrainian American community and Americans who support Ukraine. Unfortunately, as soon as Trump returned to the White House, he immediately put a freeze on the U4U initiative along with resource assistance to help Ukrainians settling in the US. He has also tried to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which many Ukrainians have relied on. Revoking U4U and TPS and deporting this huge number of Ukrainian immigrants back to Ukraine would be unimaginable. These people have nothing to go back to.
Who are the Ukrainians that have come? And what has been their experience here in the US?
Most Ukrainian refugees came to the US empty handed. Many are middle-aged or older and face challenges such as learning English, adapting to a new culture and business practices, and securing well-paying jobs. Reputable companies are hesitant to hire those with temporary status due to the possibility of them leaving within two years. Additionally, professionals like doctors and engineers must undergo recertification, which is time-consuming. As a result, many refugees can only find low-paying jobs. Despite these challenges, they are grateful to be in America, especially for the educational opportunities it provides their children. So, the thought of getting plucked out of their newfound home and returning to the unknown is frightening.
Do you know of any Ukrainians that have already been deported?
A small number of Ukrainians who committed crimes have been deported. A larger group is currently in detention centers, where they have been held since before Trump’s second term. If the U4U and TPS programs for Ukrainians are officially revoked, I believe this group may be immediately expelled without due process. Following that, the rest of the Ukrainian immigrant population could gradually face increasing risk of deportation.
Still, there are Ukrainians both in Ukraine and here in the US who support the current president. Why do you think that is?
Ukrainians are generally conservative and Christian, and there were those who voted for Trump because of his position on abortion, same sex marriage, and LGBTQ rights, all of which they believe conflict with Christian values. But Trump’s policies have had a direct impact on the community. Many have sponsored loved ones through the U4U initiative or still have relatives and friends back in Ukraine.
How have they interpreted Trump’s increasingly public feud with Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
There are some Ukrainians who feel Trump is asking the right questions. After decades of rampant corruption, many Ukrainians simply don’t trust their government. For example, the US is still attempting to recover $200 million out of the $300 million stolen by former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko. The case against Lazarenko, which began in 2000 and is still ongoing, is one of the longest criminal money laundering trials in US history. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, so much money has been siphoned off from aid that people are rightly troubled. Still, the majority I would say favors the policies of former President Biden and the focus on supporting a national Ukrainian identity outside of Russia’s shadow, aiding its entry in the NATO alliance, and providing economic development for Ukraine.
Where are Ukrainians here turning for support amid growing fears around their immigration status?
Ukrainian families have been actively communicating with their sponsors and immigrant advocacy groups to explore options for staying in the United States. Ukrainian churches are also playing a vital role by providing a range of services, including advocating for immigrant rights and resources, assisting in resettlement efforts, and offering a secure environment for worship. They have also organized town hall meetings to create a platform for Ukrainian immigrants to express their concerns and anxieties. However, due to the current political climate, even these churches must tread carefully to avoid becoming targets of ICE and other law enforcement agencies.
How do you see SlavicSac’s role at this time?
Besides being a conveyor of news and information, we also see ourselves as an advocate for our community. Prior to Trump’s return to the White House, we joined a group lobbying the US Congress to grant political asylum to Ukrainians who refused to fight in the war due to their religious beliefs. Some of these individuals have faced criminal charges and imprisonment. We’ve partnered with advocacy groups to arrange community forums that provide clarity to our readers amid the flurry of executive orders coming out of the White House. And we are closely tracking the cases of those who have been detained or deported for voicing opinions critical of the administration’s policies. The current uncertainty is upending any sense of security Ukrainians here thought they had found in their supposedly new homeland.
Ruslan Gurzhiy is founder and editor of Slavic Sac, which serves the Slavic community in Sacramento and across California. Born in Belarus, Gurzhiy founded the newspaper after a 2014 trip to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of Crimea.
