Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to revoke temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia. His remarks came in response to a Reuters report revealing that his administration was preparing to take such action.
If implemented, the move would mark a stark departure from the approach under President Joe Biden’s administration, which welcomed Ukrainian refugees. It could also accelerate the deportation process for thousands.
“We’re not looking to hurt anybody, we’re certainly not looking to hurt them, and I’m looking at that,” Trump stated to reporters in the Oval Office when questioned about the potential revocation. “There were some people that think that’s appropriate, and some people don’t, and I’ll be making the decision pretty soon.”
The proposed rollback aligns with the Trump administration’s broader objective to rescind legal status for more than 1.8 million migrants who were admitted under Biden’s temporary humanitarian parole programs. A senior Trump official and three other sources familiar with the matter confirmed these plans to Reuters.
Sources indicated that the revocation of Ukrainian parole status could take effect as early as April. The decision was reportedly in motion before Trump’s recent public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to downplay the Reuters report in a post on X, stating, “No decision has been made at this time.” Meanwhile, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated on Wednesday that the department had no new announcements. Ukrainian government agencies have not yet provided a response.
A Trump executive order issued on January 20 instructed DHS to “terminate all categorical parole programs.”
A Broader Crackdown on Immigration
The administration also plans to revoke parole status for around 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans as early as this month, according to the Trump official and a separate source familiar with internal discussions. CBS News first reported the planned rollback for these nationalities.
Migrants stripped of their parole status could be subject to expedited deportation proceedings. An internal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) email, reviewed by Reuters, detailed the legal framework for swift removals. Under existing immigration policies, those who enter the U.S. illegally may face expedited removal within two years of entry. However, migrants who entered legally through ports of entry on parole—without formal admission—can be deported at any time without a set deadline.
The Biden administration had introduced these parole programs to provide humanitarian relief and discourage illegal border crossings. The programs covered not only the 240,000 Ukrainians and the 530,000 individuals from Latin America and the Caribbean but also over 70,000 Afghans who fled the Taliban’s takeover. Additionally, 1 million migrants scheduled border crossings through the CBP One mobile app, while thousands more accessed family reunification parole.
As a candidate, Trump vowed to dismantle Biden’s immigration policies, arguing they exceeded legal limits. In line with this stance, his administration recently halted the processing of immigration-related applications for individuals admitted under Biden’s parole programs, leaving thousands in uncertainty.
Among those affected is Ukrainian refugee Liana Avetisian, who fled Kyiv with her husband and 14-year-old daughter in May 2023. The family purchased a home in DeWitt, Iowa, and secured employment—Avetisian assembling windows while her husband works in construction. However, their parole and work permits are set to expire in May, despite spending $4,000 in filing fees to renew their status and apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Avetisian expressed her growing anxiety over their uncertain future. “We don’t know what to do,” she said.
Ukrainian community leaders are now working to educate affected individuals on their rights and options. “Many of these people do not have homes to return to,” said Andrij Dobriansky, director of communications for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. “We’re talking about people whose entire towns have been leveled altogether. Where would we be sending them back to? Nothing.”
Waning Welcome for Afghan Allies
Trump’s crackdown has also affected Afghan allies who entered the U.S. under Biden’s policies.
Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer, arrived legally in January 2024 via the CBP One mobile app. He was granted temporary humanitarian parole, allowing him to live and work in the U.S. for two years. However, just over a year later, his status was revoked, and he was detained at an ICE office in Chantilly, Virginia, during a routine check-in on February 13.
In Afghanistan, Rafi had collaborated with American officers, providing intelligence on “High Value Targets,” according to an October 2022 recommendation letter from a former CIA officer. The letter, reviewed by Reuters, emphasized that “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.”
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The CIA officer further described Rafi as “truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals I had the honor to serve with in Afghanistan.” Reuters was unable to reach the officer for further comment.
In the U.S., Rafi applied for asylum and was scheduled for a hearing before an immigration judge in April. However, at his February ICE check-in—part of the conditions for his parole—officers instructed him to remove his belt and shoelaces. He immediately realized what was happening.
“Are you arresting me? I have broken no law,” he asked.
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Speaking from detention, Rafi voiced his sense of betrayal. “When someone stands shoulder to shoulder with American troops and puts his life in danger… I wasn’t expecting this behavior from them. I wasn’t expecting it.”
His attorney, in a February 24 letter to ICE, urged for his release, citing his clean record, low flight risk, and pending asylum case tied to his work with the U.S. military. However, James Mullan, assistant field office director at ICE’s Washington office, rejected the request, responding that the policies cited in the letter “ended on January 20, 2025,” the day of Trump’s inauguration.
