Trump administration has frozen immigration for Ukrainians: what you need to know
19 February 18:10
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of all immigration applications submitted by Ukrainian citizens, as well as applications from several Latin American countries. This is stated in the material of CBS News, reports
This decision directly affects thousands of migrants who previously had the right to enter the United States under humanitarian programs. The official reason for the suspension is concerns about potential fraud and national security risks.
Which immigration programs are affected by the decision
The United for Ukraine (U4U) program, which was launched in April 2022, is one of the key initiatives affected by the suspension. The program was designed to provide temporary humanitarian parole to Ukrainians fleeing the war and allowed them to remain in the United States if they had a sponsor. Since its launch, more than 240,000 Ukrainians have benefited from this program. However, consideration of new applications has now been frozen indefinitely.
Reasons for the suspension
According to an internal memorandum of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) dated February 14, 2025, the decision is based on the need to strengthen fraud prevention measures and security screening procedures. The document states that the temporary pause will remain in effect until improved verification mechanisms are implemented.
Andrew Davidson, a senior USCIS official, explained that the administrative freeze is intended to ensure that the humanitarian parole system is not used for fraudulent or illegal purposes. He emphasized that protecting U.S. interests is a priority and that current policies need to be adjusted to prevent abuse.
Implications for immigrants
The suspension of immigration applications leaves thousands of migrants, including Ukrainians, in a legal limbo. Many of them have already been living in the United States while waiting for legal status. Now their applications have been suspended indefinitely, with no clear timeline for resumption.
Former USCIS legal counsel Linden Melded expressed concern that the policy change could lead to deportations.
“It effectively freezes their ability to obtain legal status. During this period, they could be deported if their temporary residence permits are revoked,” Melded said.
Reaction of human rights groups and public outcry
Human rights organizations and immigrant advocacy groups have strongly criticized the Trump administration’s decision, calling it inhumane and contrary to the United States’ humanitarian obligations. Critics argue that it
- violates international asylum principles by denying safe haven to people fleeing war and persecution;
- harms people who have already integrated into American society, as they have already found jobs and built new lives;
- creates uncertainty for American sponsors who have agreed to financially support Ukrainian refugees.
Several human rights groups have already called on the US presidential administration to reverse this decision and resume processing immigration applications while maintaining reliable security measures.
What will happen next?
The U.S. government has not given a clear date for the resumption of processing Ukrainian immigration applications. However, USCIS officials have indicated that the pause is temporary and that new security measures will be put in place before the programs resume.
In the meantime, many Ukrainian refugees and their U.S. sponsors remain in legal limbo, awaiting further updates on their status. The Trump administration is likely to face political and legal pressure from human rights groups and Congress to reconsider its position.
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