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CURRENT NEWS

GENERAL STATEMENT
For the foreseeable future, we will make this our home page for easy access to the current news regarding the ongoing changes to the US stance on refugee visas and application statuses.  We are aware of the recent executive order signed by President Trump that pauses the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program.  We understand the impact this may have and are closely monitoring the situation.  We will keep you informed here as we receive more information.  

 

APPLICATION STATUSES

The USCIS website was briefly offline but is now back online.  The Trump administration has paused the Uniting for Ukraine program, and it appears people with current I-134A applications will not see them processed at this time.  Additionally, they will not be able to access the status of their initial applications or re-paroles.  It may, however, allow people to apply for their re-parole using Form-131.  The administration has indicated it has paused the U4U program till at least the middle of April.  It has been brought to our attention that if a parole expires, even if it is caused by the government pause, a refugee will be considered delinquent and will be subject to deportation. We at West River Resettlement are working diligently to seek guidance from our State Senators and Representative, and have made them aware of our refugees who may be caught up in incomplete application processes.  On 2/24/25, legislation ("Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act") has been introduced by a group of Senate Democrats to provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family who are already in the US through the U4U program. This bill would allow refugees to stay and work in the US until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski has signed on as a co-sponsor of this legislation.  Please contact Senators Thune and Rounds below to urge them to support this bill. 


 

USEFUL LINKS


ICE ENCOUNTER AWARENESS: 

You may be seeing reports on the news about raids by ICE, although, there have been sporadic reports of raids in SD at this time, but it has not been fully confirmed these are ICE raids.  Additionally, these raids should not apply to our Ukrainian refugees, as it only currently applies to people with no legal status in the US who have committed crimes.  Having said that, it is still a good idea to familiarize yourself with this information.  Below is a list of your rights with ICE if you come into contact with them at home, at work, or out in public.  This document is translated into English, Ukrainian and Russian.

  • Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - English

  • Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Ukranian

  • Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Russian


 

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