US mistakenly asks Ukrainian refugees to leave

IANS April 5, 2025 273 views

The US Department of Homeland Security accidentally sent a termination notice to Ukrainian refugees, causing significant alarm. The email suggested their temporary legal status would end in just seven days, sparking immediate concern among immigrants. DHS quickly acknowledged the error and sent a follow-up message assuring no action would be taken against the refugees. The incident underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding Ukrainian refugee status in the United States.

"The DHS sent this email to you in error. No action will be taken with respect to your parole." - DHS Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin
Washington, April 5: In an administrative error, the US government mistakenly issued an email to several Ukrainian refugees, notifying them that their provisional legal status would be terminated in 7 days and ordering them to leave the country.

Key Points

1

Administrative error caused panic among Ukrainian refugees in US

2

DHS quickly acknowledged and withdrew mistaken termination notice

3

Biden administration extended Ukrainian refugee protections until 2026

4

Incident highlights immigration policy complexities

The notice received by the Ukrainians who sought refuge in the US following the war with Russia caused panic among the immigrants this week.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged the error on Friday.

"A message was sent in error to some Ukrainians who entered the United States under the Uniting for Ukraine program," said DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.

The email, sent on April 3, read, "DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole," referring to the temporary legal status that the Biden administration granted to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.

"Unless it expires sooner, your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice," it stated.

The agency also took the step of withdrawing the email on Friday, sending a follow-up message to the recipients, American broadcaster CBS reported.

"You may have received an email notification titled 'Notice of Termination of Parole.' The DHS sent this email to you in error. No action will be taken with respect to your parole," it read.

Last month, addressing reporters in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said the White House has not come to a decision yet regarding the legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in the country.

Trump said that he had not made a decision on the matter yet, but planned to do so "pretty soon". He also claimed that his administration did not want to hurt refugees from Ukraine.

"We're not looking to hurt anybody, and we're certainly not looking to hurt them," Trump added.

"And I'm looking at that, and there were some people that think that's appropriate, and some people don't, and I'll be making a decision pretty soon," Trump added that Ukrainians had "gone through a lot."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the report at the time, saying no decision had been made.

The Biden administration announced in January before leaving office that it was extending temporary protected status for Ukrainians until October 2026 "due to armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning."

The revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS ) for Ukrainians would be in line with the Trump administration's broader approach to cracking down on legal pathways to enter the US amid a widespread crackdown on immigration.

Reader Comments

M
Maria K.
This must have been terrifying for those families! 😢 I'm glad they corrected the mistake quickly, but imagine getting that email after fleeing war. The system needs better checks before sending such sensitive communications.
J
James P.
Government bureaucracy at its finest... How does something like this even happen? Someone should be held accountable for causing unnecessary stress to vulnerable people.
A
Anika R.
While I'm relieved it was just an error, this shows how fragile temporary status can feel. These refugees deserve more stability after what they've been through. 🇺🇦
T
Thomas W.
Respectful criticism here - the follow-up message should have included an apology, not just a correction. A little humanity goes a long way in these situations.
S
Sophia L.
My Ukrainian neighbor got this email and was in tears. The emotional impact of this "error" can't be overstated. Maybe implement a second approval step before sending deportation notices? 🤔
D
David M.
The fact that they caught and corrected it within a day shows some responsiveness at least. Still, this shouldn't have happened in the first place. More training needed for staff handling these cases.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Ukrainian Refugees US Immigration DHS Homeland Security Refugee Policy Biden Administration
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