Biden administration details how Ukrainian refugees can enter US on humanitarian grounds

[Boiler 45,733]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/21/politics/biden-administration-ukraine-refugees/index.html

 

(CNN)The Biden administration announced a new program Thursday called "Uniting for Ukraine" that will provide a streamlined process for Ukrainian refugees seeking to come to the United States.

The move comes come nearly one month after President Joe Biden pledged to admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion and is designed to more quickly get Ukrainians interested in coming to the US.
CNN reported earlier Thursday that the humanitarian parole program will require Ukrainians seeking entry to the US to be sponsored by a US citizen or individual, which would include resettlement organizations and non-profit organizations.
The Ukrainian applicants will need to undergo rigorous security vetting and checks, including biographic and biometric screening, and complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, including receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, to be eligible. Ukrainians must have also been residents in Ukraine as of February 11.
Sponsors would need to pass security background checks of their own as well as declare financial support. There is not a limit on the number of individuals that a person or group can sponsor, but administration officials noted they'll be evaluating their means and ability to support Ukrainians. The Department of Homeland Security will administer the program.
"DHS will continue to provide relief to the Ukrainian people, while supporting our European allies who have shouldered so much as the result of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
Through this process, Ukrainian applicants would be allowed to travel to the US and be considered for humanitarian parole on a case-by-case basis for up to two years. If accepted, the individuals would be eligible for work authorization.
Individuals can begin submitting applications through an online portal on April 25.
The limited pathways to the US so far have resulted in hundreds of Ukrainians going to Mexico, where it's easier to obtain a visa, to then try to enter the US through land ports of entry. More than 5,000 Ukrainians attempted to enter the US in March, including more than 3,200 at the southern border with Mexico, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.
A Homeland Security official stressed Thursday that Ukrainians shouldn't travel to Mexico to enter the US.
"Following the launch of Uniting for Ukraine, Ukrainians who present at land U.S. ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine will be denied entry and referred to apply through this program," according to DHS.
In addition to the humanitarian parole program, the State Department is working to expand its Refugee Admissions Program operations in Europe, with the goal of providing eligible individuals with better access to the Lautenberg program, an initiative aimed at helping those fleeing religious persecution from the Soviet Union, as well as stepping up referral mechanisms for Ukrainians seeking permanent resettlement.
More than 5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in late February, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Wednesday.
 

[Rocio0010 5,580]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There is not a limit on the number of individuals that a person or group can sponsor, but administration officials noted they'll be evaluating their means and ability to support Ukrainians. The Department of Homeland Security will administer the program.

I wonder if it will be on an I-864 style

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

"Following the launch of Uniting for Ukraine, Ukrainians who present at land U.S. ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine will be denied entry and referred to apply through this program," according to DHS.

Wow!  Yet, thousands and thousands of others can enter the southern border easily....without a Covid vaccine....

Edited April 21, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 45,733]

1 minute ago, Rocio0010 said:

I wonder if it will be on an I-864 style

That is not a normal requirement for Humanitarian Parole.

 

I have not looked for a while but there were about 40,000 Afghan applicants and the rate they were being processed it would take 70 years, so very unlikely anybody going through this will be entering the US any time soon.

 

I saw elsewhere that Ukrainians have until Monday to enter via Mexico using HP,  Canada not mentioned.

 

Just to show how clueless this is, with Title 42 going, Russians are in  a much better situation as they can just turn up and claim Asylum at the Border.

 

Usual caveat as to what they say, what they do etc well time will tell.

[Rocio0010 5,580]

I guess my point was how on Earth are they going to evaluate sponsors in such a short amount of time. It sounds like one of those grandiose ideas that nobody really knows how to execute.

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Just to show how clueless this is, with Title 42 going, Russians are in  a much better situation as they can just turn up and claim Asylum at the Border.

EXACTLY!!!!!   This administration is insane, imo.  As usual, this is another "feel good" action with no thought to logic...or impact

Edited April 21, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 45,733]

1 minute ago, Rocio0010 said:

I guess my point was how on Earth are they going to evaluate sponsors in such a short amount of time. It sounds like one of those grandiose ideas that nobody really knows how to execute.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/humanitarian-parole

 

This is nothing new, seems they have set up a specific portal but otherwise rules are in place.

 

Unless I am missing something it will not be a short amount of time.

[Boiler 45,733]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

EXACTLY!!!!!   This is nuts!!!! This administration is insane, imo.  

The first thing that struck me and in a matter of seconds, so what is going on, I can not believe that there are not people in the Administration who have not thought this through?

 

[PEbode 14]

What really upsets me is they are so called gonna hurry and process these immigrants thru but the rest of us are wait all over in a slow process being away from our spouses and families and have to go thru all the checks

[Ellie_7 103]

"...but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

Proverbs 12:10b

[millefleur 5,047]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Just to show how clueless this is, with Title 42 going, Russians are in  a much better situation as they can just turn up and claim Asylum at the Border.

That part makes me wonder if they'll start telling Russians not to come, depending on how many show up.

 

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

In addition to the humanitarian parole program, the State Department is working to expand its Refugee Admissions Program operations in Europe, with the goal of providing eligible individuals with better access to the Lautenberg program, an initiative aimed at helping those fleeing religious persecution from the Soviet Union, as well as stepping up referral mechanisms for Ukrainians seeking permanent resettlement.

"From the Soviet Union"???

[Boiler 45,733]

I have heard of the Lautenburg program but never looked into it

[millefleur 5,047]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I have heard of the Lautenburg program but never looked into it

Looked it up out of curiosity. It's for people the former Soviet Union who come from certain religious backgrounds:

https://www.rescue.org/announcement/lautenberg-program-former-soviet-union-0

 

Eligible applicants include: Jews, Evangelical Christians (Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, and others), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ukrainian Greek Catholics, and members of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Applicants must have immediate relatives in the United States. 

[Boiler 45,733]

Seems an interesting option wonder what the time lines is

[millefleur 5,047]

36 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Seems an interesting option wonder what the time lines is

Since it also requires immediate relatives in the US, seems like it would be similar processing times to the other methods.