Nearly 200,000 Ukrainians living in the United States under a humanitarian program could lose their legal status because of ongoing processing delays from the Trump administration. Many have lost their jobs, health insurance, and face the risk of detention while their renewal applications are still pending without a clear timeline.
Humanitarian Program Delays Leave Thousands Without Status
The humanitarian program established in 2022 allowed nearly 260,000 Ukrainians to enter the United States during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Participants were granted an initial two-year period of legal stay and work authorization. As renewals became due in 2024 and 2025, processing delays placed a significant number of applicants at risk of falling out of status.
Internal data reviewed by Reuters indicates that nearly 200,000 Ukrainians were in legal limbo as of March 31. Many individuals reported losing their jobs after their work authorization expired. This impacted areas like hospitality, technology, interior design, early childhood education, and financial services. Others described challenges accessing medical care and traveling freely because they feared encountering immigration authorities while waiting for updates on their cases.
Former officials familiar with enforcement practices mentioned that individuals with lapsed legal status face a higher risk of detention, which adds to the anxiety among those awaiting decisions.
Uncertainty Grows as Renewals Slow
Renewal delays have increased since January, when the Trump administration paused processing for what officials called a security review. A federal court later ordered the government to resume renewal processing, but progress has remained slow. Since May, only about 1,900 applications from all nationalities in the humanitarian program have been processed, representing a small portion of the pending cases.
Interviews show that many Ukrainians are staying indoors or limiting their travel to avoid possible immigration enforcement actions. Some have already left the United States for Canada, Europe, or South America due to worries about detention, job loss, or ongoing uncertainty.
Those who remain are relying on personal savings, community support, or short-term loans to meet their basic needs. Many expressed doubt about when, or if, they would regain their legal work authorization.
Policy Shifts and Added Financial Burdens
Early 2025 discussions in Washington raised questions about whether the program would be terminated altogether. While the administration ultimately kept the program in place, a spending measure enacted in July added a $1,000 renewal fee to the existing $1,325 filing cost. Advocates say the combined fees pose a significant challenge for families already facing financial hardship.
Advocacy groups and community sponsors report an increase in calls from Ukrainians whose relatives have been detained during worksite operations or broader enforcement sweeps. Several sponsors say individuals who complied with program requirements have nevertheless found themselves without a valid status due to government delays.
Growing Number of Ukrainians Leaving Voluntarily
A portion of Ukrainians have chosen to leave the United States voluntarily. Some attempted to use the CBP One app after the administration announced a free outbound flight and a $1,000 incentive for those who depart. Several users faced obstacles while using the app. They had difficulty booking flights to their preferred destinations.
Those who leave often look for countries with humanitarian pathways and lower living costs. For many applicants, returning to areas near the conflict is still unsafe.
Looking Ahead
The ongoing delays have left Ukrainian families across the country in a state of uncertainty. Many are still waiting for renewal decisions and facing different risks from enforcement. The timeline for addressing backlogs is unclear.
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