On Friday, the Trump administration admitted to mistakenly telling certain Ukrainian refugees that they must leave the U.S. immediately due to the revocation of their legal status. The message, which was sent in error, was revealed in a statement made to CBS News.
The story began when some Ukrainians, who had entered the U.S. during the tenure of the Biden administration following Russia’s invasion of their homeland, received emails during the week. These emails, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, informed them that their legal protections were about to be terminated. This information came from both advocates and a notice that CBS News had obtained.
The notice, dated April 3, read, “DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole,” referring to the temporary legal status that the Biden administration had granted to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. “Unless it expires sooner, your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice.”
The Biden administration had welcomed roughly 240,000 Ukrainians under a policy known as Uniting for Ukraine, or U4U. This initiative enabled Americans to sponsor Ukrainians who had been displaced by Russia’s invasion. In addition to this group, over 20,000 Ukrainians who had flown to Mexico at the start of the war were also permitted entry into the U.S. under the parole authority. This provision allows officials to provide temporary work permits and deportation protections to migrants on humanitarian grounds.
The message further stated that if recipients failed to leave the U.S., they would “be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States,” unless they had obtained another immigration status. The notice also indicated that recipients would forfeit their work permits once their parole status was revoked. They were also urged to apply for self-deportation using a government smartphone app known as CBP Home that the Trump administration had recently repurposed.
“DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States — the federal government will find you,” the notice warned. “Please depart the United States immediately.”
When CBS News questioned representatives from DHS about the notice, they admitted that it had been sent erroneously. “A message was sent in error to some Ukrainians under the U4U program,” DHS stated on Friday. “The U4U parole program has not been terminated.”
The agency also took the step of retracting the email on Friday, writing to recipients in a second email: “(Y)ou may have received an email notification titled ‘Notice of Termination of Parole.’ The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent this email to you in error. No action will be taken with respect to your parole.” However, it remains unclear how many Ukrainians received the government’s notice.
While the Trump administration has not officially terminated the Uniting for Ukraine program, it has suspended admissions under the policy, as well as status renewals for those already in the U.S. Despite the Trump administration’s admission that it had inadvertently sent the termination notices, advocates continue to express concerns that officials could still attempt to strip Ukrainians of their legal status in the future.
As part of its sweeping crackdown on both illegal and legal immigration, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle Biden-era immigration programs that relied on the parole authority. It has discontinued a sponsorship initiative for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, and warned the more than half-a-million migrants who arrived in the U.S. under the policy that they would face arrest and deportation if they did not self-deport by April 24.
The plight of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in their homeland is a significant issue. As they await the processing of their applications at the Unidad Deportiva Benito Juarez along the border with the U.S. in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, the sudden email notification from DHS must have caused significant distress. The retraction of the email and the clarification that the U4U parole program has not been terminated should bring some relief, but the situation highlights the precarious nature of their status and the policies affecting them.
The immigration landscape in the U.S. remains complex and fraught with challenges, as evidenced by this incident. The sweeping crackdown on immigration, both illegal and legal, under the Trump administration has led to a dismantling of previous policies and introduced new ones that have profound implications for those seeking refuge in the U.S. The erroneous email to the Ukrainian refugees is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these individuals, their dependence on policy decisions, and the critical role of clear and accurate communication in such matters.
The author of this article, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.
