Local Ukrainians prepare for more uncertainty
Ukrainians gather to learn that their stay in the US could end abruptly
On Sunday afternoon, protesters in Sebastopol came out to Stand for Ukraine, bearing signs and blue and yellow flag. They lined both sides of the street by the town square and in front of Whole Foods. Similar protests were held in Santa Rosa and Sonoma. Last Friday at a press conference at the White House, President Trump and Vice President Vance berated the Ukrainian President Zelensky, which seems part of a plan to achieve peace by taking Russia’s side in the war. Seeing what happened at the press conference has struck a nerve with a lot of Americans.
On Sunday evening, about 20 Ukrainians and some of their sponsors gathered in the home of John and Dianne Namkung to get an update from John on their immigration status in the US. “There are about 40 Ukrainians who moved to Sonoma County after war broke out in their country,” said John. Under a program called Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) described as “humanitarian parole,” Ukrainians who fled the war could come to the United States if they had someone in the United States to sponsor them. The initial term of the parole was two years, and many have applied for “re-parole,” which extended the term for two more years.
The first person arrived in West County in May 2022. Sebastopol Times has covered John’s work, sponsoring Ukrainians, finding other sponsors, organizing fundraisers and tirelessly helping the Ukrainians navigate the government systems and fill out various applications. Johnny Sanphillippo of Graton has sponsored 13 Ukrainians; he brought dinner for 30 to the evening event. (Nancy and I have sponsored two families, one in Sebastopol and another living in San Francisco.)
Speaking in English and assisted by a Ukrainian translator, John Namkung began the meeting by admitting that he didn’t have much good news, but he wanted to share “a common understanding of how things are” and update the families on what he’s learned from his research, as well as attending seminars hosted by immigration attorneys and advocates.
He explained the difference in the United States between law and an executive order. A law passed by Congress cannot be overturned by a sitting president acting on his own. An executive order, however, “outlines how the law will be implemented and doesn’t require Congressional approval,” John explained. An executive order, such as the one that created the humanitarian parole program, can be changed or eliminated by a new administration. “U4U can end at any time,” he said.
John said that the Trump administration has three priorities around immigration:
Significantly reduce new arrivals under humanitarian parole;
Deport people who are here illegally;
Remove protections from people who came here legally.
“Ukrainians have not been targeted by the government, but the concrete actions of the government put everyone at risk,” he said. Trump issued an executive order in January that “indefinitely suspends all new U4U applications and re-parole.” During this period of suspension, no decisions will be made on any applications by Ukrainians here in the US for extension of their original paroles.
He said that immigration attorneys warn that the government may end humanitarian parole at any time. Such action, he said, would be announced in the Federal Register by the administration. “They don’t have to send letters notifying Ukrainians that they no longer have legal status to remain in the country.” They’d be subject to deportation.
He added that those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years are “subject to additional risk of expedited removal.” Those who arrived in the US on or before August 16, 2023, can apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is a law administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Some in the group have applied and been given TPS, which would allow them to stay in the US independently of the humanitarian parole. John identified others in the group who need to apply by the deadline of March 18 in order to extend their TPS until October 2026.
After going through these details, John said that he wished he had better news, but it wasn’t all bad news. Multiple lawsuits have been filed challenging the executive orders, and judges have issued temporary injunctions. A bill called the “Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act” has been introduced in Congress by a Democrat. This bill would grant automatic temporary guest status in the US to Ukrainians without needing to apply for re-parole or TPS. However, there are no Republican co-sponsors of the bill at this time. In the meantime, he advised all of the Ukrainians to “think about what they would do if U4U or TPS for Ukrainians ends, and they no longer have legal status to remain in the US.”
John distributed small red cards printed in English and Ukrainian that specify the constitutional rights of the Ukrainians if they are confronted by ICE (Immigration and Citizenship Enforcement) agents. He stated that while they are not in imminent danger of being targeted by ICE agents, there is the possibility that the red cards may be needed if U4U or TPS for Ukrainians ends and their legal status in the US is terminated. He advised all Ukrainians to carry the cards as well as the I-94 form that specifies the legal expiration date of their parole. He advised all of the Ukrainians to “begin thinking about going and preparing themselves.”
The only good news he could offer is that there are many Americans who “stand for Ukraine,” as evidenced by the protests earlier in the day. He said that the Ukrainians were lucky to be in Sonoma County, a liberal bastion, where there’s support for Ukraine and these Ukrainian families.
Note: Because of the technical details in this article, and their importance to local Ukrainian families, I asked John Namkung to review a draft of this article, which he was kind to do. He suggested useful changes and additions that I incorporated.
Probably need better communication for future protests/demonstrations. I only learned by chance and others hadn't, perhaps they don't read Seb Times. Didn't realize the immigration threat; to be at the will of a vengeful, irrational president is truly awful.
Thank you for reporting this story, Dale.