In two years, US program resettles 187,000 Ukrainians after Russia’s invasion, facing minimal controversy

A few years ago, Yana and her family were forced to flee their native Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion. The violent disruption caused by the conflict displaced millions of refugees, triggering the largest refugee exodus in Europe since World War II. As other European countries like Poland and Germany absorbed these refugees, the U.S. swiftly followed suit, with President Biden committing to welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians. In April 2022, the Biden administration introduced an innovative program called “Uniting for Ukraine,” allowing Ukrainian refugees sponsored by Americans to come to the U.S. and work legally without going through the regular visa process. This initiative has been highly successful, with more than 236,000 cases approved under the program by U.S. immigration officials.

Through the Uniting for Ukraine program, Lana Rogers, Yana’s aunt and an American citizen living in New Jersey, was able to sponsor her sister Olena Kopchak and her family. This sponsorship enabled them to arrive in New Jersey in June 2022, where they initially lived with Rogers and received government assistance for their basic needs. However, Kopchak and her husband have since secured employment and found their own apartment in central New Jersey. The Department of Homeland Security reported that as of the end of March, over 187,000 Ukrainians had arrived in the U.S. under the Uniting for Ukraine program, with an additional 350,000 Ukrainians entering the U.S. through temporary visas since the start of the Russian invasion. Unlike other U.S. immigration policies, the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees has been efficiently handled with minimal controversy, with some Republican lawmakers even expressing support for welcoming Ukrainian refugees.

While the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has strained resources in some communities, the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees has not faced the same challenges or prompted major political issues for the Biden administration. The Uniting for Ukraine program has no numerical limit on approvals and applications are processed relatively quickly, unlike other sponsorship programs for migrants from different regions. This swift action is attributed to the unique nature of the Uniting for Ukraine program, which requires an American sponsor and provides immediate work authorization and access to federal benefits for Ukrainian refugees. However, the Ukrainians’ permission to stay in the U.S. under humanitarian parole is temporary, and they do not have a pathway to permanent legal status or citizenship.

Geopolitical factors and a sense of solidarity between the American and Ukrainian people have contributed to the warm reception of Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. Additionally, the race and national origin of the Ukrainian refugees may have influenced the positive treatment they have received compared to other immigrant populations. Despite the challenges they face, Ukrainian refugees like Olena Kopchak are grateful for the safety and support they have found in the U.S., as they continue to hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in their homeland. As the war in Ukraine persists, the fate of these refugees remains uncertain, with the Biden administration asserting that most Ukrainians will eventually return home once the situation stabilizes.