Trump planning to deport 240,000 Ukrainian war refugees


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Plans to revoke humanitarian protections for approximately 240,000 Ukrainian refugees are underway within the Trump administration, according to a senior official and three sources with knowledge of the situation. This dramatic shift could expose these individuals to potential deportation as early as April.

This decision represents a stark departure from the Biden administration’s welcoming stance toward Ukrainian refugees. The policy change was already in development before Trump’s recent public disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy targeting over 1.8 million migrants who received temporary humanitarian parole under Biden’s administration. When asked for comment, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin indicated there were no announcements to make, while the White House and Ukrainian embassy did not respond to inquiries.

A January 20 executive order from Trump instructed DHS to end all categorical parole programs. According to the Trump official and another source speaking anonymously about internal discussions, the administration plans to terminate parole for roughly 530,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the coming weeks.

An internal ICE email reviewed by Reuters suggests that migrants who lose their parole status could face expedited deportation proceedings. While illegal border crossers can only be subject to expedited removal within two years of entry, those who entered legally through ports of entry without formal admission have no such time restriction.

The Biden-era programs were established to provide legal pathways and humanitarian assistance while deterring illegal immigration. These initiatives encompassed not only Ukrainian refugees and nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela but also included over 70,000 Afghans fleeing Taliban rule and approximately 1 million migrants who scheduled border crossings through the CBP One app.

The impact of these changes is already being felt. Ukrainian Liana Avetisian, along with her husband and teenage daughter, faces uncertainty after fleeing Kyiv in May 2023. Now residing in DeWitt, Iowa, where she works in window assembly and her husband in construction, their parole and work permits expire in May. “We don’t know what to do,” she said, describing how stress over their situation has led to headaches.

The policy shift has also affected U.S. allies from Afghanistan. Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer who entered legally in January 2024, had his parole status revoked during a routine ICE check-in in Virginia. “When someone stands shoulder to shoulder with American troops and puts his life in danger…” he said from detention, his voice trembling. “I wasn’t expecting this behavior from them. I wasn’t expecting it.”

Rafi’s situation is particularly poignant given his background. “As a result of his active efforts against the enemy, he is currently in extreme danger, and in need of assistance in departing the country,” wrote a former CIA officer who trained him in an October 2022 recommendation letter.

Despite his lawyer’s appeal highlighting his clean record and ongoing asylum case, ICE’s Washington field office declined to release him. Assistant Field Office Director James Mullan’s response was clear: “The priorities that you mentioned in your email ended on Jan. 20, 2025.”

 

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