Displaced Ukrainians, sought sanctuary in U.S. communities, express concern over potential displacement under Trump's administration's policies
Moving to a brand-new place can be intimidating, even more so when that place is a small, rural town like Hartsville, South Carolina – especially when you've fled a war-torn country like Ukraine. Sasha and his family, forced to abruptly abandon their life in Kyiv, settled in Hartsville in September 2022, welcomed by the community as they began to rebuild their lives.
"The United States, it was like a fortress of democracy, of freedom, of opportunities," Sasha, who prefers to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, told CNN. Yet, uncertainty looms as decisions on parole extensions, temporary protected status, and work authorizations for refugees like Sasha have been put on hold, leaving scores of families in limbo.
Under President Biden's Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, about 280,000 Ukrainians have relocated to the US, many sponsored by private citizens. Curtis Lee, a member of "Carolinas for Ukraine," sponsor for Sasha's family, fears this hold could be detrimental, not just for Ukrainian families but for the community as a whole.
Liana Avetisian and Alina Mirzoian, Ukrainian cousins who settled with their family in DeWitt, Iowa, face an uncertain future due to the hold. They've paid significant application fees and are waiting for temporary protected status, but the administration's suspension of parole extensions leaves them in a precarious position.
"This community feels absolutely devastated," Angela Boelens, Avetisian's sponsor and president of Iowa Newcomer Community & Exchange (IA NICE), told CNN. DeWitt has raised half a million dollars for transitional houses, some of which have been sold to newcomers. Boelens worries the hold could derail the entire effort, leaving families in limbo once more.
Sam Heer, who employs four Ukrainian workers, including Avetisian and Mirzoian, is hopeful they'll be able to stay. He applied for work visas for the four, but the status remains uncertain. "They're great assets to our community, they're hardworking. They want to learn. They want to provide for their families," he said.
Hartsville, too, braces for potential impacts if their Ukrainian neighbors cannot remain. As Lee noted, one local business depends on skilled labor from resettled Ukrainians. The community is investing in these newcomers – emotionally, financially, and professionally – and fears the consequences if they must leave.
The specer of uprooting their lives once more has already been traumatic for many Ukrainians in the US. Sasha and his family fled Kyiv with only minutes to pack, their daughter asking repeatedly, "Daddy, where is our home?" – a question Sasha struggles to answer, especially as his daughter begins to call their new home in Hartsville that.
Enrichment Data:
- Overall:The current status of work authorizations and temporary protected status for Ukrainian refugees in the US is subject to recent changes and clarifications.
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine: As of April 2025 to October 2026, Ukrainian refugees are covered under a TPS designation, with an extension effective from April 2025.
- Uniting for Ukraine Program: Although the U4U program has been paused, Ukrainian refugees can still enter on humanitarian parole. The pause may affect new entrants but does not necessarily impact those already in the US under humanitarian programs like TPS or parole, who typically qualify for work permits.
- Sasha, a Ukrainian refugee, settled in Hartsville, South Carolina in September 2022, and prefers to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, as decisions on parole extensions, temporary protected status, and work authorizations for Ukrainians like him have been put on hold, causing uncertainty.
- The at-risk status of Ukrainian families, who have found employment and shelter in places like Hartsville, is a concern for community members, as decisions about parole extensions, work authorizations, and temporary protected status continue to be delayed.
- Under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, over 280,000 Ukrainians have relocated to the US, many of whom are currently facing uncertainty due to the hold on decisions about parole extensions, temporary protected status, and work authorizations.
- The general news cycle is filled with stories of Ukrainian families, who have experienced US asylum, facing a precarious future due to the hold on parole extensions, temporary protected status, and work authorizations, leaving them struggling to safeguard their new lives in policy-and-legislation related to politics.
