US suspends program for Ukrainian refugees: details and deadlines

28 January 12:51

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended accepting applications from Ukrainians for asylum under the United for Ukraine program. This is because of US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration decree. This is stated on the USCIS website, according to Komersant ukrainskyi.

“In connection with the executive order of January 20, 2025, ‘Securing Our Borders,’ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is suspending the acceptance of Form I-134A, the online request for support, and the declaration of financial support,” the agency said.

They noted that due to Trump’s order, the acceptance of asylum applications and financial assistance for Ukrainian refugees is suspended until the applications for stay in the United States are verified.

It is worth noting that United for Ukraine is a humanitarian protection program for Ukrainian citizens, according to which they and their immediate relatives outside the United States can come to the United States and temporarily stay in the country for 2 years. Ukrainians participating in the U4U program must have a sponsor in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support during their stay in the United States.

According to the Voice of America, as of March 2023, more than 118,000 Ukrainians have come to the United States under the U4U program.

In addition, about 25,000 more Ukrainians entered the United States at the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, crossing the U.S. land border from Mexico.

As a reminder, on his first day in office, Donald Trump signed a decree on a 90-day suspension of US foreign aid for development programs. It states that all heads of ministries and agencies responsible for US foreign development assistance programs must immediately suspend the allocation and disbursement of funds to foreign countries and international non-governmental organizations until such programs are reviewed for effectiveness and compliance with US policy.

What kind of non-military assistance did Ukraine receive from the United States?

According to its official website, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided Ukraine with $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and more than $30 billion in direct budget support.

This money goes to support a variety of sectors: from the public sector, which provides critical services, to anti-corruption agencies, to assistance to internally displaced persons, to education.

In addition, as seen in USAID reports, the energy sector, agriculture, and even relocation and logistics services are receiving support.

Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor