The Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia, Iryna Mazur, commented on the situation regarding the potential cancellation of legal status for Ukrainians under the U.S. government programs Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which provide temporary protection to Ukrainians affected by the war. According to her, the information about the cancellation is false, and the White House has already refuted it. She urged people not to panic and to trust only official sources.
This was reported The Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia, Iryna Mazur, in a video address to Ukrainians in the U.S.
According to her, the information about the possible termination of humanitarian parole, which appeared in the media, including Reutersis not accurate. The White House has already denied this claim, stating that the administration does not plan to revoke the status for Ukrainians.
"This issue does not concern only Ukrainians—over 1.8 million foreigners have received parole under the program. The current administration considers this status too liberal and is reviewing its legality," Mazur explained.
She further clarified that the situation arose due to an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, which mandates a review of all temporary programs granting such status to foreigners, including U4U and TPS. According to this order, the review must be completed by March 22. However, there is no official decision yet regarding Ukrainians residing in the U.S. under this program.
Additionally, the situation was exacerbated by a memorandum from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dated February 14, the contents of which have not been disclosed.
"The Department of Homeland Security issued an internal memorandum, which they refused to publish. As a result, our advocacy community still does not have the full details of this memorandum. It states that all applications submitted under the 'Parole' program will be put on hold. This means that the immigration field is currently very tense. No one can say for sure what is happening, and when information emerges from various sources, it causes immense stress for people," Mazur stated.
She urged Ukrainians not to panic and to rely only on official sources. She also noted that the U.S. Congress is currently considering a bill that would establish a special guest status for Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. under the U4U program. If the administration makes a negative decision, this bill could serve as a guarantee for the continuation of their legal status in the U.S.
"As of now, no status has been revoked. Many cases are under review. The most important thing is not to panic, wait for official information, and avoid signing any documents if you do not fully understand their content," Mazur emphasized.
According to her, the legal community is closely monitoring the situation, and if necessary, explanatory webinars will be organized for Ukrainians in the U.S. regarding their rights and available options.
Author: Inna Mikhno