Ukrainian Parolees

Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine in February 2022. As a result, more than 8 million refugees have fled the country in search of safety. The majority are women and children in need of protection and support.

The conflict has continued to escalate, and Russian forces have targeted Ukrainians indiscriminately. This has caused thousands of civilian casualties and decimated key infrastructure. Many of the families who have escaped to neighboring countries have arrived with only the clothes on their backs. The Ukrainian economy has also plummeted, leaving these refugees with little or no financial security.

Shortly after the conflict began, President Biden committed to welcome up to 100,000 people fleeing Ukraine. He also announced that Ukrainians who are already in the United States would be granted Temporary Protected Status making them safe from deportation.

In April, the administration announced the Uniting for Ukraine initiative. Under Uniting for Ukraine, people who have fled the conflict in Ukraine are eligible for humanitarian parole, a temporary legal status that allows beneficiaries to stay in the U.S. for up to two years. Individuals applying to travel to the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine must apply with a sponsor, which can be a group or individual in the U.S. who commits to supporting the beneficiary after they arrive in the country.

Our CWS DC office aids Ukrainians residing in Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland, through PC supplements program funded by Office of Refugee and Resettlement. Despite their extended stay in the U.S many individuals still face challenges in integration and self-sufficiency.