The US government will explain how Ukrainian refugees can enter
Ukrainian refugees enter the US-Mexico border crossing on April 9 in Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty Images)
The Biden administration is expected to announce soon new details on how Ukrainian refugees can apply to enter the United States on humanitarian grounds.
The move comes a month after President Joe Biden promised to acknowledge the escape of 100,000 Ukrainians from the invasion.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, more than 5,000 Ukrainians attempted to enter the United States in March, of which 3,274 were on the southern border with Mexico.
The humanitarian parole program, which comes under the Department of Homeland Security, will be announced soon on Thursday and will be funded by a U.S. citizen or individual who wants Ukrainians to enter the United States, including resettlement organizations. And non-profit, the source said.
The group said people should be subjected to rigorous safety checks – including autobiography and biometric screening and other public health requirements, such as getting full vaccines and the Covit-19 vaccine.
Supporters must complete their own security checks and declare their financial support.
Through this process, Ukrainian applicants could go to the United States and be granted humanitarian parole, on a case-by-case basis, up to two years, the source said. If accepted, individuals are eligible for work recognition.
Evidence suggests that Biden management may begin receiving applications for the program by the end of April.
In addition to the humanitarian parole program, the State Department is expanding its European refugee enrollment program activities, the source added, with the goal of providing better access to eligible individuals for the Lawtenberg program. Persecution in the Soviet Union — as well as accelerating referral mechanisms for Ukrainians seeking permanent resettlement.
White House spokeswoman Jen Zhaki told reporters Wednesday that the administration was working to finalize details on how to handle 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the United States.
A White House spokesman declined to comment on the details, but said more details about the administration’s efforts would be announced “soon”. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday that more than five million people had fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in late February.
