False Notices Sent to Ukrainians in the U.S.
This week, a number of Ukrainians residing in the U.S. under a humanitarian program received erroneous emails stating that their status had been revoked.
According to Reuters, this issue has raised concerns within the Ukrainian community.
The emails indicated that their status was canceled, and they were granted only seven days to leave the country, or else federal authorities would find them.
The message stated: "If you do not leave the United States immediately, you may become the subject of law enforcement actions leading to your removal. Your humanitarian status is being terminated. Do not attempt to remain in the United States."
However, on April 4, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the emails were sent in error, and the program initiated after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was still active. It remains unclear how many Ukrainians received these emails.
On the same day, the Department of Homeland Security sent a follow-up email stating that the previous order was incorrect and that "your humanitarian status remains unchanged at this time."
It is worth noting that in January, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, officials from the Department of Homeland Security ordered the suspension of several programs that allowed migrants to temporarily stay in the U.S., including a key initiative for Ukrainians.