The Biden-era initiative, which surpassed its target in 2023, has now been halted under Trump
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended a program offering immigration services to Ukrainians, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump last week. The agency said on Monday that it has paused the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program until it reviews the requirements of Trump’s order.
The new president’s executive action is aimed at improving US border security and addressing what he described as a “large-scale invasion [by] illegal aliens.” Trump ordered the termination of all “categorical parole programs” that are contrary to his immigration policy, but did not target Ukrainians specifically. The New York Times reported last week that U4U was affected by the decisions.
Launched by the administration of then-President Joe Biden in April 2022, the U4U program offered Ukrainian citizens displaced due to the conflict with Russia a path to residing in the US. Initially capped at 100,000 applicants, the scheme was later expanded.
By mid-2023, more than 117,000 people had been admitted into the country under the U4U terms, which require an American sponsor to vouch for each applicant. Including other pathways, more than 271,000 Ukrainian citizens entered the US as refugees in a year, the US Homeland Security Service reported at the time.
The Trump administration has also paused for 90 days most foreign aid programs, including assistance for Ukraine. Exceptions were made for military financing of Israel and Egypt. According to the Financial Times, several diplomats at the Department of State have urged the government to make an exception for Kiev as well.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky claimed during a press conference on Saturday that US military assistance was not halted. However, NGOs in Ukraine were reportedly instructed to stop most projects funded through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
