Advocacy

On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation that would offer Ukrainians who recently arrived in the United States a temporary safety net to allow them to stay here while conditions in Ukraine remain dangerous. The "Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act" proposes to grant U4U parolees a "temporary Ukrainian guest status" as of the date they were initially paroled into the United States. The bill also proposes to grant automatic employment authorization to parolees who are granted temporary Ukrainian guest status under this legislation. Read more

All people who are living in the United States have certain rights that are given to them by the U.S. Constitution. This includes citizens, lawful permanent residents, those who are here on a visa, those with humanitarian parole, other immigrants, and those who are undocumented. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has authority to investigate, apprehend, arrest, detain, and remove noncitizens who are within the United States unlawfully or who have committed acts that make them deportable. If you or someone you know are approached by ICE, know your rights at work, at home, and in public places. Read more

Learn about our current immigration advocacy goals for Ukrainians and help us spread the word! Read more

With no renewed funding from Congress, resettlement staff across the country have been forced to turn Ukrainians away. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants published a compelling op-ed today that explains how newly arriving Ukrainians seeking refuge in the United States find themselves at risk of homelessness, hunger, trafficking, and serious health risks due to being cut off from critical assistance and services. Learn more about this issue and why it threatens not only the safety of vulnerable Ukrainians but the future of the Uniting for Ukraine program. Read more

The Ukraine Immigration Task Force was quoted in today's Policy & Advocacy Report from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). The policy brief highlights some of the financial and safety challenges for newly arriving Ukrainians paroled after September 30, 2023 who are not eligible for federal mainstream benefits, Medicaid coverage, or ORR funded resettlement assistance. The report underscores the importance of these benefits to both Ukrainians fleeing war and the continued success of sponsor-driven humanitarian parole programs. Read more

Learn about our current immigration advocacy goals for Ukrainians and help us spread the word! Read more

On August 14, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on Congress to reauthorize the bipartisan Lautenberg Amendment, a family reunification program providing a legal path for resettlement for religious minorities fleeing government persecution. The program requires annual reauthorization by both the Senate and House of Representatives. Failure to reauthorize the Lautenberg Amendment puts this vital resettlement pathway in danger of closing to Ukrainians and other people who seek religious freedom. Read more

Today, we called on President Biden, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to immediately extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18-months. Read more

Read about our top short-term and long-term immigration advocacy initiatives for Ukrainians. Help us spread the word about these important issues! Read more

Ukrainians who were granted humanitarian parole for only one year in spring of 2022 are unable to receive timely re-parole or extend their stay in the United States. In addition to losing lawful status and becoming at risk for deportation, Ukrainians who cannot obtain re-parole soon risk losing their employment authorization, medical insurance, and other federal benefits that were granted based on their parole status. The Ukraine Immigration Task Force has outlined a summary below of the challenges caused by the current regulations and processing delays. We are also proposing specific regulatory actions that would enable Ukrainians whose parole expires soon to quickly and easily apply for re-parole, maintain their employment authorization, and continue to have access to benefits for which they are currently eligible. Read more